In this quick tutorial you'll learn how to draw a Dove in 6 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 Dove.
Make sure you also check out any of the hundreds of drawing tutorials grouped by category.
How to Draw a Dove - Step-by-Step Tutorial
Step 1: Start with the round head. Think of an upside down "U". There is a pointy beak along the left side of the "U" line.
Step 2: At the top of the "U" draw the round eye. On the top of the beak add the nose marking.
Step 3: Continue the left line of the head down at an angle to make the back line. Curve a line from the left line of the head down and to the right to make the chest line.
Step 4: Draw the upper part of the wing very wide starting almost at the back line and curve it toward the chest line. Then bend it sharply down and back toward the back line. After making the pointy tip bring the wing line back up parallel to the back line.
Step 5: Add the bottom part of the body from the chest line. From there add a very short foot. There are two long pointy toes on the front of the foot and a shorter toe on the back.
Step 6: Finally, draw the square-shaped tail feathers under the bottom of the wing. Add another foot just behind the first foot. Be sure to include the sharp back toe.
Interesting Facts about Doves
Doves belong to the great Columbidae bird family, along with pigeons, which are often considered as one in the same with the “dove” being the smaller of the two.
Doves are often referred to as “song birds” or “perching birds” and are believed to have evolved close to 60 million years ago. They now exist worldwide everywhere, except the very dry regions of the Sahara Desert, the high Arctic and Antarctica.
Did you know?
- Squabs are young pigeons and doves.
- Doves, like pigeons, have short necks; short slender bills and their bodies are stout.
- Doves may build flimsy nests in trees, on the ground or on ledges.
- A female dove will generally lay one or two eggs and both parents help tend to the babies.
- Doves eat plants, seeds and fruit.
- Unlike most other birds, doves, both male and female produce milk that is fed to their babies.
Doves and pigeons have played important roles in the Hebrew, Islamic and Catholic religions. The pigeon was used as a means of delivering important messages during both WWI and WWII and were officially awarded for their work by the United States and Europe.
How to Draw A Dove – Quick Step-by-Step Tutorial