"Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."
- Matthew 10:31, King James Version
Sparrows are a common sight the world over, being native or imported to every continent except Antarctica. These small brown birds are comfortable around human settlements, and their habitats range from forests to deserts to open country. They eat seeds and insects, and many are quite vocal.
Sparrows are also represented in popular culture. In the Pokémon franchise, for example, the tiny bird Pokémon Pidgey, which evolves into Pidgeotto and Pidgeot, is based on the sparrow. The name of another bird Pokémon, the Spearow, is also based on the sparrow. A number of aircraft, missiles, films, songs, and computer programs draw their monikers from this tiny bird.
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Did you know? one of the earliest references to the sparrow was an Egyptian hieroglyph meaning "small," "narrow," or "bad." Sparrows were also associated with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Sparrows have been mentioned in literature throughout history, from famous sermons in the Bible to Shakespeare's Hamlet.
Would you like to draw a charming cartoon sparrow? This easy, step-by-step cartoon animal drawing tutorial is here to show you how.
If you liked this tutorial, see also the following drawing guides: Eastern Bluebird, Blue Jay, and Mockingbird.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Drawing a Sparrow
1. Begin by sketching the general outline of the sparrow. Use long, curved lines to sketch the head and body. Notice how the lines overlap to produce a feathery appearance near the neck and tail.
2. Draw the wing, erasing as necessary. Use a long curved line for the bottom of the wing, and "U" shaped lines for the feathers at the tip.
3. Draw the sparrow's eye. Sketch one small circle inside another.
4. Draw the bird's beak, erasing as necessary. Use curved lines to sketch the triangular shape of the upper beak, then the lower beak.
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5. Sketch the tail. Draw two curved lines extending from the bird's body. Connect them at the end using a series of "U" shaped lines.
6. Sketch the bird's leg. Use a long curved line to sketch the front of the leg and the top of the first toe. Then, use overlapping curved lines to form the second and third toes. Draw a small curved triangle at the end of each toe to indicate the claws.
7. Use a curved line to complete the leg and the rear-facing toe. Draw a triangular claw at the tip of the toe.
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8. Use a series of curved lines to sketch the remaining leg and toes. Draw triangular claws at the tip of each toe.
9. Use a curved line to complete the leg and final toe. Draw a triangular claw at the tip of the toe.
Color your sparrow. Sparrows are predominantly brown with streaks of black, reddish-brown, and cream. A few, such as the chipping sparrow, have bright splashes of yellow. You can refer to our example to realistically shade your sparrow.
Birds of a feather really do flock together, even in cartoons! Find your flock with the help of our animal drawing guides.
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The Complete Sparrow Drawing Tutorial in One Image
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