How to Draw a Heron

1. Begin the heron outline by drawing the bird's head. Use curved lines to sketch the head, eye, and extra-long beak. Shade a small circle inside the eye to indicate the pupil.

2. Draw the long, snake-like neck using a series of curved lines that meet at jagged points. The overall shape of the neck should be the letter "S," with the points giving it a feathered texture. Then, draw a curved line to indicate the top of the wing.

3. Use long and short lines that overlap and meet at points to sketch the teardrop-shaped wing.

4. Use a series of curved lines that meet at jagged points to draw the bird's chest and the upper part of the leg. Then, extend a long curved line to begin the featherless portion of the leg. Notice the bends of the "elbow" and ankle.

5. Draw another long, curved line roughly parallel to the previous line. Then, use overlapping "U" shaped lines to draw the bird's toes. Enclose a curved, teardrop-shaped claw at the tip of each toe.

6. Draw the remaining leg. Use jagged lines to draw the upper portion of the leg, and parallel lines for the lower portion. Then, finish enclosing the bird's body, using a series of jagged lines to form the tail.

7. Use jagged lines to texture the feather's on the heron's head, wing, and stomach.

8. Texture the wing with more feathers, and draw short lines along the fronts of the legs. Then, draw a straight, horizontal line passing behind the legs. This is the horizon line. Use curved lines to draw a ripple in the water around the heron's legs.

9. Use connected curved lines to draw cloudlike shrubbery in the background. Use additional curved lines to draw waves in the water.

Your cartoon heron outline is now complete. Herons come in many colors, ranging from brown to green to white.