How To Draw Bird Wings Step By Step

1

Draw two thin, slightly curved ovals as shown. They should look like connected tree branches, or the skeleton of a bat's arm.
2

Add in faint curves for the feathers. They should be mostly oval-like in shape, overlapping one another but not going beyond three rows or so per wing.
3

Sketch in thinner, larger feathers. These can be as thick or as lengthy as you like, but try to keep even the proportions of these feathers and the feathers from the previous step.
4

Draw details for the feathers. You don't necessarily need to have too many extra lines or spots on your feathers, but the image above will show you how if you want those elements.
5

Outline and color your wing. To create a set, if your character is being viewed from the front rather than the side, simply mirror the drawing you've already done on the other side. And remember, when detailing/coloring, use your imagination!

1

Draw three trapezoids of different sizes and orientations which are connected to each other. This will be the framework for the wings.
2

Draw two straight lines with a space apart and which follow the orientation of the trapezoids – three layers are formed.
3

Draw the feathers for the first layer using simple and rounded curves.
4

Draw the second layer of feather using simple curves and longer than the first layer feathers.
5

Draw the third layer feathers using simple curves. The feathers are longer and more refined.
6

Trace with a pen and erase unnecessary lines.
7

Color to your liking with shades of white!

1
Sketch the base line. This is the base of your wing which will determine its length. In this example, we'll be drawing an eagle's wing.
- Make sure to lightly sketch the base with a pencil, as you'll want to erase it later.
- Birds with longer wings generally have longer arms and shorter hands, like wandering albatrosses or seagulls. Smaller birds have shorter arms and longer hands, like sparrows or hummingbirds.
2
Draw the first layer of feathers. Do this by sketching a general shape that vaguely follows the wing's base and then fill it in with feathers.
- Don't forget the skin flap between the forearm and the upper arm.
3

Draw the second layer of feathers. It's similar to drawing the first layer of feathers, but further out.
4
Draw the outer feathers on the wing. This is a tricky step, because the line of feathers isn't consistent as in the other rows of feathers. You can make it easier for yourself to sketch out lines for the feathers before drawing them.
- Eagle wing feathers look like "fingers" but this doesn't apply to all birds, for example budgerigars.
5

Finish! Clean up the sketch, erase the base, and use however you want! You can use these exact tips for drawing other kinds of wings too, like vultures, crows, parrots, doves, anything.

Add New Question

Question

What happens if I don't have an eraser?

SommySombrero

Community Answer

You could draw the base very lightly with whatever you've got, and then cover it up with color or shading.
Question

What if I don't draw well?

Keep practicing. Most people are not naturally gifted artists, the only way to get better is to practice.
Question

Am I able to put the wings on a person?

Yes, but make sure it's angled, so it doesn't look awkward.
Question

What do I do if I don't have a pen or eraser?

Draw the sketches lightly in pencil and apply more pressure when finishing the drawing to make the final image darker.
Question

How can I draw the back of the wings?

If you want to make it feathered, then it would be very similar to the front with different tones in different places, and a few feathers in different places. Otherwise, you could try making it seem 3D by making it look more layered at some points, for example near the outline of the bone.
Question

How can I apply this to a wolf?

SommySombrero

Community Answer

Flip the wings so they're coming out of the wolf's upper back, right behind the front legs. You can simply flip the image with the wolf so it's pointing up and draw the wings that way to make it easier.
Question

Can you make this simpler? I'm only in fourth grade.

These are pretty simple. You may just need to practice more at drawing in general before trying to draw something with wings. If you really want to try drawing wings now, I would suggest looking up tutorials for drawing them on YouTube. Sometimes it's easier if you watch someone doing it.
Question

How do I draw demon wings or bone wings?

Start by drawing the bone, which looks like an "L" with more of an obtuse angle. Draw a membrane or skin attached to the bone, sort of like a bat.
Question

Can I use a pen?

Yes, absolutely.
Question

SommySombrero

Community Answer

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Video

Draw lightly in pencil so that you can easily rub out mistakes.
If you want to use markers/watercolors to color your drawing, use paper that is relatively thick and line over your pencil more darkly before doing so.
First make the outline of the wing.
If possible, start with lighter pencils like HB pencils, then gradually work your way down to B pencils.

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About This Article

Article SummaryX

To draw a cartoon wing, start by drawing 2 thin, slightly curved ovals that are connected at one end, which will be the arm of your wing. Then, add 3 rows of overlapping ovals extending off of the arm for the small feathers. Next, sketch 1 row of large, long feathers that curve upward at the top of your wing. Finally, go back in and add the finishing touches, like shading and extra lines, to make your wing more realistic. To learn how to draw a realistic bird wing, scroll down!

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