In this quick tutorial you'll learn how to draw a Western Meadowlark in 8 easy steps - great for kids and novice artists.
The images above represent how your finished drawing is going to look and the steps involved.
Below are the individual steps - you can click on each one for a High Resolution printable PDF version.
At the bottom you can read some interesting facts about the Western Meadowlark.
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How to Draw a Western Meadowlark - Step-by-Step Tutorial
Step 1: Draw the head. The top of the head looks like a boomerang. The left side of the boomerang comes to a sharp point to make the beak and comes back to the right. From the end of this line draw a short line curved slightly down to start the neck line.
Step 2: Next draw a line in the middle of the beak to make the mouth line. At the end of that line draw a round eye.
Step 3: Continue the right head line down and curve it to the right and down. The left head line curves to the right and back up
Step 4: Now start the wing line just below the top of the back line. Angle the wing line down to join to the bottom of the back line. Make a small bump and continue the wing down to make a point. Bring the wing line back up and curve it widely back up into the middle of the body.
Step 5: From the bottom of the left body line draw the tail line down and to the right. Make two wide bumps at the end of the tail and angle the line back up to the bottom of the wing line.
Step 6: At the very bottom of the left body line draw two lines to make the hind leg. The leg is very thin and ends in three toes at the bottom. Make the toes very long and pointy.
Step 7: Draw a straight line across the foot at the top of the toes to make the block of wood the meadowlark is perched on. Now draw several lines straight up and down inside the wood.
Step 8: Lastly, draw the feather patterns. There are straight lines along the tail feathers. The wing, back and body have curved lines. There are squiggly lines along the head and neck.
Interesting Facts about the WESTERN MEADOWLARK
The Western Meadowlark is a member of the bird group and the scientific term for them is Sturnella neglecta. This species derives its English name from it apparently having fun (larking) in the openness of sparse trees (meadow). They belong to the Icterids (Greek word for “jaundiced [yellow] ones”) family because of their small to medium size, colorful feathers, and a passerine (3 toes forward, 1 toe backward) bird in the New World. The Latin word “neglecta” was included because documentation began on the Eastern Meadowlark and discoverers of the Western Meadowlark assumed that they were the same species (neglected), until the 1800s.
Did you know?
- This animal was first documented in 1844.
- They have a “V” pattern on their chest.
- The length is up to over 3/4 of a foot long.
- Their nests contain a roof that is woven from grass.
- They are the state bird in 6 states of the United States.
This bird is similar to the Eastern Meadowlark in that they both have brown and white stripes on their back, but this species is distinguished by their more flowing singing rhythm. They make nests on the ground of western and central grasslands of North America. These animals have a low population amount, but are considered to be the least concern for the possibility of extinction.
How to Draw a Western Meadowlark – Step-by-Step Tutorial