Drawing a realistic hummingbird requires careful observation, patience, and practice. With the right techniques and tools, anyone can learn to draw hummingbirds in pencil. Here are some quick tips to get you started:
Gather Reference Photos
Study as many reference photos of hummingbirds as you can. Pay attention to the colors, patterns, shapes, and postures. Look for photos that show different angles and positions. Get clear, close-up shots of the head, beak, wings, feet, and tail. The more examples you look at, the better you’ll understand the anatomy and details to include in your own drawings.
Use the Right Drawing Tools
Draw hummingbirds using soft drawing pencils (such as 2B-6B pencils) which create dark lines and blend well. You’ll need to shade the feathers. Smooth paper works best, such as medium-tooth drawing paper or mixed media paper. Use sharp pencils and keep them well-pointed for fine details. An eraser is essential for making corrections and lifting graphite.
Start with a Light Sketch
Very lightly sketch the basic shape of the bird to establish the pose and proportions. Draw lightly at first because you’ll need to erase some of these early lines later. Start with an oval for the body and add the basic shapes of the head, beak, wings, feet and tail. Use smooth, tentative lines while you work out the placement. Don’t press hard or draw any details yet.
Refine the Key Contours
Once you have the general proportions mapped out, start refining the main contours. Draw the outlines of the head, neck, body, wings and tail. Develop the form using long, flowing lines that follow the curves of the hummingbird’s plump body and wings. At this stage, your sketches should accurately convey the bird’s form and posture before adding details.
Add the Facial Features
Hummingbirds have very distinctive faces. Their eyes are set high on the sides of their heads. Their long, narrow beaks extend far out from their forehead. Carefully sketch the beak shape. Draw a dot for the eye, or just indicate the eye’s location with a short line for now. Loosely sketch a circle for the head and add a condensed line for the neck and short tail.
Fill in the Feathers
To convey the texture of the feathers, start shading using small, overlapping circular strokes that follow the form of the bird. Add layers of graphite to darken areas and suggest feathers. Leave some areas white for highlights. Hatching in different directions creates convincing plumage. Applying pencil softly and smoothly results in soft, blended feathers. For more definition, use sharper, controlled strokes. Develop patterns, colors and iridescence with your shading techniques.
Refine Details and Add Finishing Touches
Now work systematically through the drawing refining each area. Darken lines where needed to sharpen edges and clarify outlines. Erase any sketchy construction lines that remain. Carefully draw the eyes, feet, and any final details. Use a kneaded eraser to lift out highlights and create feather patterns. Sign your finished hummingbird drawing and preserve with a fixative spray if desired.
Tips for Drawing Realistic Hummingbirds
Follow these additional tips to take your hummingbird drawings to the next level:
- Study colors and look for iridescence on the throat, crown, and wings.
- Capture the translucent quality of the wings.
- Convey movement with action lines and composition.
- Draw feathers with variations in length, layering, and orientation.
- Observe the shapes and angles of the beak.
- Include detailed feet and claws.
- Practice drawing hummers from multiple angles.
- Aim for an accurate silhouette shape before adding detail.
- Leave whites of the paper for bold highlights.
- Work slowly and patiently to achieve realism.
How to Draw a Hummingbird Body and Wings
Start with light construction lines to capture the posture before carefully sketching the details of the body, wings and tail. Here are some tips:
- Draw a large teardrop shape for the body. Add an oval head and small tail.
- Position the wings raised up above the back or outstretched.
- Hummingbird wings have rounded deltas and oval tips.
- Show tapered primary feathers fanned out at the wingtips.
- Suggest feathers with multiple contour lines and shading.
- The tail is short and slightly forked.
How to Draw the Head and Beak
The head and beak require careful observation to accurately depict the hummingbird’s unique features:
- Eyes are small and located high on the sides of the head.
- Add a tiny dot in each eye for the pupil.
- The S-curved bill should be about as long as the head.
- Bill length and shape varies among species.
- Draw the top curve of the upper mandible wider than the bottom.
- Show the slight hook at the tip of the bill.
- Nostrils are very small slits near the base.
How to Draw Feet and Legs
Hummingbirds have tiny feet with long toes used for perching:
- Draw two forward-facing toes and two back-facing toes.
- Include four distinct claws curving downward.
- Show an elongated ankle extending up the thin leg.
- Legs are covered in small feather-like scales.
- Keep the feet small in proportion to the body.
- Position perched birds grasping a branch or wire.
- Draw flying hummers with feet tucked close to the body.
How to Shade a Hummingbird
Use pencils, blending, and shading techniques to add life-like colors and textures:
- Layer graphite to fill in dark colors on the head, back, and wings.
- Leave white areas for the light underbody feathers.
- Crosshatching creates iridescent effects.
- Blend with a cotton swab or tissue for soft graduated tones.
- Darken the outer edges of feathers to make them stand out.
- Shade more lightly as you move down the body.
- Add speckles and spots if appropriate for the species.
- Shadows under the body convey a sense of light.
How to Draw Hummingbirds in Action
Use poses and composition to show hummingbirds elegantly hovering and darting through the air:
- Draw wings blurred to depict rapid motion.
- Tilt the body diagonally into the picture plane.
- Angle the head and bill to aim where its flying.
- Add lines radiating from the wings to show movement.
- Blur or overlap the feet to convey mid-flight.
- Compose the scene to frame or follow the subject.
- Add flower shapes and branch lines to set the environment.
Hummingbird Species to Draw
There are over 300 species of hummingbirds worldwide displaying amazing diversity. Here are some species to consider drawing:
Species | Location | Field Marks |
---|---|---|
Ruby-throated Hummingbird | Eastern North America | Ruby red throat, green back, gray underparts |
Anna’s Hummingbird | Western North America | Iridescent rose red head and throat, green back |
Rufous Hummingbird | Pacific Northwest | Distinctive rusty red on back and flanks |
Allen’s Hummingbird | California Coast | Orange throat, green crown, rufous rump |
Calliope Hummingbird | Western Mountains | smallest in USA, streaked throat |
Broad-tailed Hummingbird | Rocky Mountains | Broad rusty tail with white tips |
Research the unique features, colors, tail shapes and beak forms of different species. Drawing various types of hummingbirds helps improve your observation skills.
Practice the Fundamentals
Drawing realistic hummingbirds takes patience and persistence. Mastering some core art skills goes a long way in developing your technique:
- Value: Recreate colors by layering light and dark shades.
- Texture: Use different strokes and lines to convey feathers.
- Perspective: Establish a horizon line and vanishing points.
- Composition: Frame the subject nicely within the picture plane.
- Proportion: Accurately measure and place key features.
- Contrast: Create visual interest by balancing lights and darks.
As you practice the fundamentals and study hummingbird reference materials, your skills at drawing birds will improve steadily. Be patient with yourself while building experience at bringing these incredible creatures to life on paper.
Conclusion
Drawing hummingbirds accurately and artistically is an engaging creative challenge. By carefully following the bird’s form and details, artists can capture the elegance, energy and beauty of hummingbirds in pencil drawings. With persistence, patience, quality reference photos and an ardent love of nature, you can masterfully depict these captivating creatures and polish your artistic skills in the process.