In this quick tutorial you'll learn how to draw a Red Kite 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 Red Kite.
Make sure you also check out any of the hundreds of drawing tutorials grouped by category.
How to Draw a Red Kite - Step-by-Step Tutorial
Step 1: Start drawing the Red Kite by drawing the head. Draw a small curved shape like an upside down 'U'.
Step 2: Draw the face by adding a round eye and pupil. Add a small 'v' shape for the beak. They are scavengers, so they will eat dead animals and garbage.
Step 3: To draw the body, draw two smooth line down and have them meet at a point.
Step 4: To draw the tail, draw a triangular shape behind the body with round feathery points at the bottom.
Step 5: Add a large wing as show by drawing two curved lines at the top, and a lot of round feather shapes at the bottom.
Step 6: Now draw the second wing on the right to match the left wing. The Red Kite flies long distances to migrate when it gets too cold.
Step 7: Draw a small 'w' for the shape of the feet.
Step 8: Now add the details of the feather pattern on the Red Kite. Add many small curves all over the body and wings, too! Lastly, add a few straight lines in the tail. Finally, draw a tree branch underneath the feet for the Hawk to perch on. Color the Red Kite a red-brownish color with white wing-tips.
Interesting Facts about Red Kites
Red Kites are birds of prey that live primarily in Europe. Populations can be in Europe and northern Africa, but the main area seems to be anywhere with trees to nest. Red Kites are brown with red, white, and black streaks. A female can weigh from 1000 grams to 1300 grams; while males can weigh 800- 1200 grams. Their wing spans are 175-195 centimeters long. A Red Kite will mate for life and needs 2-4 years to be ready for it. In captivity, a Red Kite will live to be 26 years old. A Red Kite in a cold climate will migrate south, but if they already live in a warm area, they don’t go anywhere.
Did you know?
- Goshawks, Humans, and Red Foxes are the only known predators of Red Kites.
- Red Kites are near a Threatened status on the Endangered Species List.
- They are endangered in England.
- Red Kites are scavengers and like to eat rabbits, sheep, and whatever garbage they can find.
- The strongest populations of this bird are Germany, France, and Spain.
Activity: A fun use of a household item such as an empty toilet paper roll or paper towel roll is to use it for a Red Kite craft. Start by painting a sheet of paper with either watercolors or tempera paints. The paper needs to be layers of brown and white with a little black. Paint the top of the paper roll white. Wrap the rest of the paper roll with tan construction paper and draw some dark brown steaks with a marker. When paint and glue dry, use the brown marker to make brown streaks on the back of the Red Kite’s head. Make sure to leave the front white for the face. Add some craft google eyes and a yellow construction paper beak. Then add some three toed yellow construction paper feet to the bottom of the roll. Finally, trace your hands on the painted paper you started with and cut them out. Glue the handprints to the back of the paper roll and let it sit to dry.
How to Draw a Red Kite – Step-By-Step Tutorial