You can choose your favorite images to see detail drawing instructions:
Today, drawing123.com will guide you how to easily draw an ostrich with simple steps.
Let’s get started!

Step 1: Draw the Head
Begin by drawing the ostrich’s head, which includes a circular eye with a pupil and a beak.

Step 2: Outline the Face
Draw a rounded shape around the eye and beak to define the head and jawline.

Step 3: Draw the Neck
Add two long, curved lines extending downward from the head to form the long neck.

Step 4: Detail the Neck Base
Draw a series of small, connected curves at the bottom of the neck to suggest the texture of feathers where the neck meets the body.

Step 5: Start the Body Outline
Sketch a curved line extending backward from the neck base to begin forming the upper portion of the bird’s body.

Step 6: Add the First Leg
Draw the first long, thin leg, including the knee joint and the foot with toes at the bottom.

Step 7: Draw the Second Leg
Draw the second leg, slightly behind the first one, showing the full length from the upper thigh area down to the foot.

Step 8: Add Wing Feathers
Sketch a series of overlapping, rounded shapes on the side of the body to represent the layered wing feathers.

Step 9: Complete the Back
Connect the wing area to the neck base with a large, smooth arch to complete the upper outline of the back.

Step 10: Draw the Tail
Add a group of curved, feathery shapes at the rear of the body to form the ostrich’s tail.

Step 11: Color the Ostrich
Finish the drawing by applying colors: fill the head and neck with light pink, the body and wing feathers with dark gray, the tail and primary wing feathers with white, and the beak with orange.


Step 1: Head Outline
Start by drawing a rounded, continuous outline for the head of the ostrich. Make sure to add three distinct, small, rounded tufts of feathers at the very top. This outline represents the initial, foundational structure of the head.

Step 2: Drawing the Neck
From the base of the completed head, draw two long, slightly curving vertical lines descending downwards. These lines will establish the length and position of the ostrich’s long neck. The head from the first step should still be visible above this new addition.

Step 3: Establishing the Body (Fluffy Rump)
At the base of the long neck, create a rounded, fluffy shape to establish the main area where the body will connect. This shape should have multiple curves, resembling a cloud, to suggest feather volume at the base of the neck.

Step 4: Upper Body Contour
Draw two gentle, outward-curving lines that start near the midpoint of the neck and define the upper contour of the body. These lines will set the overall shape and size of the ostrich’s main frame.

Step 5: Creating the Wings
Building onto the body structure, add scalloped, layered feather shapes on each side of the lower body curve. These shapes should resemble distinct wings, composed of multiple rounded feather tip outlines.

Step 6: The Full Body Outline
Define the complete body by adding the final, large, scalloped curve to the very bottom of the existing body contours. This shape should mirror the curves of the neck base and rump, fully closing the ostrich’s form and giving it volume.

Step 7: Lower Thigh Details
Below the main body outline, draw the detailed, jointed shapes for the upper part of the thighs. These shapes should be complex, indicating structure and muscle, and end in two small, simplified toe outlines.

Step 8: Adding the Full Legs
Extend two long, slender, simplified poles downward from the detailed thigh joints to complete the legs. Add a basic foot shape to the bottom of each pole. This step gives the ostrich its height and posture.

Step 9: Creating the Face and Expression
Now, focus inside the head outline. Draw two large, detailed eyes with defined pupils and light reflections. Add curved eyebrows above them and a wide, friendly, open beak that gives the ostrich a distinct, smiling expression.

Step 10: The Full-Color Masterpiece
The final step is to apply the specific colors to bring the character to life. The long neck, head, and both of the long lower legs are painted a soft, consistent pink. The main body area is deep purple. The detailed upper thighs and the fluffy feather area at the base of the neck are colored grey. The smiling beak is warm orange, and the eyes are colored black with bright highlights, all contained within the original outlines.


Step 1: Establish the Main Body Outline
Begin by sketching a large, irregular, fuzzy, or scalloped circle in the lower-central part of your page. This textured shape will form the core of the ostrich’s plumaged body. Ensure it is roughly centered, leaving ample space above for the neck and below for the legs.

Step 2: Add Wings to the Sides
Building upon the central body shape, draw two sets of feather layers attached to the upper sides. On the left side, add a curved cascade of three rounded feather shapes. On the right, add a similar cascade of three rounded feather shapes.

Step 3: Draw the Legs and Feet
Extending downwards from the bottom curve of the feathered body, draw two long, relatively straight, and slightly articulated legs. These legs should be spaced a bit apart and have defined knee areas. At the bottom of each leg, draw simple feet with three rounded toes pointing slightly outward.

Step 4: Define the Chest Plumage and Start the Neck
Return to the upper part of the main body. Directly in the center, between the wings, add a small, scalloped puff of feathers. From this chest tuft, draw two long, vertical, parallel lines extending upwards, which will define the ostrich’s long neck.

Step 5: Elaborate the Plumage Texture
Add more internal texture to the body plumage. Add more layers of scalloped feather lines within the chest tuft area from the previous step. Then, draw two pairs of small, simple, curved, “W”-like line clusters on the chest, flanking the lower neck and wings, to suggest feather detail.

Step 6: Form the Basic Head Shape
At the top of the neck lines, draw a rounded, fuzzy shape for the head. This shape should have a smooth curve on the bottom, rounded cheeks, and a small, spiky, tufted crest at the very top.

Step 7: Detail the Face and Beak
Inside the head shape from the previous step, add the final facial details. Draw a large, simple beak shape centered on the face. Above the beak, draw two simple, rounded eye sockets, and inside them, draw large, friendly eyes with defined circular pupils and iris lines. Add small nostril dots on the beak and a line for the mouth opening.

Step 8: Finalize and Apply Color
With the full structure complete, it’s time for color. The long neck and the legs are a light, peachy-tan or skin tone. The feathered body and wings are filled with a dark purple-grey. The chest patch is left white. The head is also light peach, but the beak is colored pink. The eyes have dark pupils and white reflections.


Step 1: Start with the Head and Beak
Begin your drawing in the upper left of your page. Draw a simple, slightly elongated triangular shape for the lower beak. Then, draw a corresponding curved, slightly larger shape for the upper beak. This creates a side profile. Just behind the upper beak, add a simple, solid oval or circle for the eye.

Step 2: Define the Head and Neck Contour
Now, connect the head to a neck. Draw a single, long, smooth, ‘S’-curved line starting from the top-back of the upper beak, curving down and forward, and then slightly back again. Draw a second, parallel ‘S’-curved line starting from just below the lower beak to form the complete, slender neck.

Step 3: Create the Fluffy Body Base
At the base of the two neck lines, draw a large, rounded, generally oval-like shape for the main body. Instead of a smooth line, use a continuous series of small, connected scalloped or wave-like lines to define this shape. This gives the body a fluffy, feathered appearance. The top scalloped edge should meet the back of the neck, and the bottom should form the belly.

Step 4: Add the Wing Feathers
Inside the fluffy body shape you just created, add internal details to represent the wing. Draw two layers of scalloped or feather-like clusters: one large central one, and a smaller one to its side, defining a wing form within the larger body contour.

Step 5: Attach the Tail Feathers
Extend from the very rear point of the main fluffy body contour. Draw a series of connected, smaller fluffy, scalloped tufts to form a full, plush tail-feather cluster. Make sure it blends naturally with the rear body edge.

Step 6: Draw the Fore Leg
Starting from the bottom-front edge of the main body contour, draw the first long leg. It should be a slender, articulated leg structure, with a prominent ‘knee’ joint. At the bottom, draw a foot with two simple, pointed toes. The leg is drawn mid-stride, extended forward.

Step 7: Add the Back Leg mid-Stride
Next, draw the second leg, also in a stride position. It should start from further back under the body. This leg should be positioned further back, with the joints bent as if pushing off. The final foot with two pointed toes should also be mid-stride.

Step 8: Apply Final Colors
Fill the head, beak, and legs with a warm, solid tan color. Make the main fluffy body a dark, solid slate grey, while leaving the internal wing feather patches and the tail-feather cluster in a light, soft grey. The eye remains solid black. All the previous line-work serves as the outline for the color fill.


Step 1: Draw the Beak
Begin by drawing the shape of the upper and lower mandibles for the beak.

Step 2: Form the Head and Neck
Outline the rest of the head and the long, slender neck attached to the beak.

Step 3: Add the Neck Feathers
Add a ruffled, textured line around the base of the neck to represent the neck feathers.

Step 4: Outline the Body
Draw the large, rounded shape of the body extending from behind the neck feathers.

Step 5: Define the Tail Feathers
Add the ruffled tail feathers to the back of the body.

Step 6: Create the Wing
Draw the layered, ruffled wing structure on the side of the body.

Step 7: Add Feather Detail
Incorporate short, curved lines on the body and wing area to suggest feather texture.

Step 8: Draw the first leg
Sketch the first leg by drawing a long, sturdy shape extending downwards from the bottom of the body.

Step 9: Draw the second leg
Sketch the second leg positioned slightly behind the first to show depth.

Step 10: Detail the Head
Add the crest on top of the head and the circular eye.

Step 11: Color the Ostrich
Finish the drawing by applying color. Use a light pink for the head and neck, a dark grey for the body and wing feathers, a white fill for the neck ruff, and a bright yellow for the beak.


Step 1: The Beak
Start with the ostrich’s beak, positioned near the top of your drawing area. This forms the central point of the head.

Step 2: Head Outline
From the beak, draw the rest of the head. Add a smooth, curved line for the top and back of the head, and include small, tufted crest feathers along the top edge.

Step 3: A Long Neck
Draw two long, smooth parallel lines extending down from the base of the head to form the characteristic long, curved neck.

Step 4: Neck Collar and Ruffle
At the base of the neck, where it meets the body, draw a scalloped or wavy line to create a small, defined collar or ruffle.

Step 5: Body Outline
From the collar, draw a large, rounded oval shape to form the main body. Keep the line-work smooth and continuous to define the shape.

Step 6: Tail Feathers
Add the ostrich’s tail. Attach a fan of several large, wavy, and scalloped shapes to the back end of the body oval.

Step 7: Wing Outline
Draw the outlines of the wing on the main body. These are layers of curved, feather-like shapes indicating overlapping plumage on the side of the bird.

Step 8: First Running Leg
Add the first leg, showing movement. Extend a muscular upper leg section down from the front of the body, then draw a bent joint leading to a lower leg and a large, three-toed foot with sharp claws, in a raised, running pose. Add small horizontal texture lines.

Step 9: Second Running Leg
Draw the second leg to complete the running action. Place this leg further back on the body, with a different bend in the joint, leading down to a second detailed, clawed foot, planted firmly on the ground surface. Add matching texture lines to the shin.

Step 10: Adding the Eye and Brow
Refine the head details by adding the large, expressive eye and the eyebrow. This simple detail immediately brings the ostrich to life.

Step 11: Coloring the Ostrich
Finally, color the ostrich. The entire body and tail feathers are a deep, dark blue. The lower, inner layer of wing feathers, and the front claw on the back foot are left white. The head, long neck, and upper leg section (above the joint) are a soft, pale pink. All lower legs (from the joint down to the feet) and the beak are a bright, warm orange. The collar at the neck base is colored cream or off-white. The main body of the other claws are colored light grey.

Hopefully, this drawing tutorial on Ostrich will help you easily create a nice drawing.