Hummingbirds are beautiful, delicate birds that can be a joy to watch and draw. Their slender bodies, long beaks, and rapidly beating wings present an interesting challenge for any artist. With some basic sketching techniques and an understanding of hummingbird anatomy and features, you can learn how to draw hummingbirds that come to life on the page.
What supplies do you need to draw a hummingbird?
To draw a realistic hummingbird, you will need a pencil, eraser, paper, and optional coloring supplies like colored pencils or markers. Good drawing pencils include 2B, 4B, and 6B for deepening shadows. Smooth Bristol paper works well for detailed pencil drawings. You may also want a ruler or other straightedge tool to help draw straight lines for the beak and body. Photographic references of hummingbirds can also help you accurately depict their proportions and feather details.
How can you plan the composition?
When starting your hummingbird drawing, first lightly sketch the basic shape of the bird and plan out the composition. Hummingbirds are often drawn solo on a blank background or among flower blossoms. Consider if you want a side profile, front facing, or rear view of the bird. Plan the angle of the head and body and whether the wings will be open or closed. Allow enough space to detail the wings, long beak, feet, and tail. Quick, loose gesture lines can map out the movement and direction of the hummingbird before refining the sketch.
Step-by-Step Drawing Instructions
Follow along with these steps to draw a hummingbird:
1. Sketch the basic body shape
Use light, basic lines to outline the head, body, wings, and tail. Hummingbirds have compact, rounded bodies. Their wings are long and pointed, extending past the tip of the tail when perched. Draw a teardrop shaped body and attach an elongated triangle for each wing. Add a long, tapered tail.
2. Refine the key body parts
– Head – Draw a small, rounded head with a long, pointed beak extending beyond it. Add a rounded eye above the beak.
– Body – Refine the body shape, making it fuller in the chest area and narrowed at the tail. Add a curved line down the center for the backbone.
– Wings – Shape the long wings with slightly curved, pointed ends. Add longer primary feathers.
– Legs and feet – Draw two short, spindly legs with petite feet, each with three thin toes pointing forward.
– Tail – Extend the pointed tail feathers past the wing tips. They can fan outward a bit at the ends.
3. Add details to the face, feathers, and feet
– Face – Add a dark pupil in the eye. Detail the beak with a ridged upper mandible that overhangs the lower half.
– Feathers – Use short strokes following the form to detail small, overlapping feathers along the body, wings, and tail.
– Feet – Draw three jointed toes on each tiny foot, with the middle toe slightly longer. Add a few curved talon lines at the toe tips.
4. Refine shading and textures
– Consider light source – Determine where the light is coming from and start shading the opposite side of each body part darker. This creates form and depth.
– Darken key areas – Use heavier pressure and darker pencil strokes to define the darkest shadowed areas, like underneath the head, along the wing edges, and around the feet.
– Add color (optional) – Color in your drawing with realistic hummingbird plumage using colored pencils, markers, or other coloring media. Add richer shades on the head, back, and tail for color variations.
Tips for Drawing Details
Here are some tips for accurately drawing different hummingbird features:
Beak
– Long, slender, and slightly decurved
– Pointed tip that overlaps the bottom mandible
– Top ridge runs along length of upper mandible
Head and Body
– Small, rounded head in profile view
– Compact body shape with a plump chest
– Slim, tapered abdomen toward the tail
– Smooth, rounded contour/silhouette
Wings
– Long primary feathers form slender, pointed shape
– Wingspan wider than length of tail
– Delicate lower wing lining against body
– Overlapping rows of smaller coverts and scapulars
Legs and Feet
– Two very short, thin legs
– Petite feet with 3 forward-facing toes
– Middle toe slightly longer than outer toes
– Covered in small scales, no feathering
Tail
– Wide, flat, forked tail structure
– Outer tail feathers taper to points
– Rounded ends on middle tail feathers
– All tail feathers overlap nicely
Common Hummingbird Species to Draw
Here are some common North American hummingbird species and their distinct features:
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
– Bright metallic green upper body, white underside
– Ruby red throat (male only)
– Forked tail with rounded outer feathers
Anna’s Hummingbird
– Emerald green upper body, grey underside
– Rose pink head and throat (male only)
– Straight tail edges with wide banding
Rufous Hummingbird
– Greenish upper body with rufous sides
– Rufous tail with black center band
– Red throat (male only)
– Distinctive rufous coloring on males
Allen’s Hummingbird
– Green upper body, grey underside (both sexes)
– Orange throat, face (male only)
– Rounded, narrow tail with white tips
| Species | Color Notes | Tail Shape |
|---|---|---|
| Ruby-throated | Green above, white below. Ruby red throat on males. | Forked |
| Anna’s | Emerald green above, gray below. Pink head and throat on males. | Straight edges |
| Rufous | Greenish above, rufous on sides. Rufous tail with black band. | Rufous coloring |
| Allen’s | Green above, grey below on both sexes. Orange throat on males. | Rounded and narrow |
Conclusion
Drawing hummingbirds requires careful attention to detail, especially on the unique features like the slender beak, rapid wings, and tapering tail. Use sharp, quick pencil strokes to capture their delicate forms and active energy. With practice and the right techniques, you can create beautiful, realistic drawings of these charming birds in action. Remember to sketch lightly at first, adding darker shading and color after you establish the basics. Soon you will be able to readily capture hummingbirds with ease as they dart and hover through your drawings.
