How to draw an eagle step by step
An eagle looks hard because of the sharp beak and the wide wings, but the body underneath is simple. The trick is drawing the head and beak first, because everything else lines up around them.
- Draw a rounded shape for the head, slightly flattened on top.
- Add the beak. An eagle beak is short, thick and hooked sharply downward at the tip, unlike the longer straight beak of most other birds.
- Draw a strong brow line above the eye. This is what gives an eagle its fierce, focused look.
- Add an oval body below the head, tapering toward the tail feathers.
- Draw the wings last. Folded wings hug the body in a smooth curve. Open wings are broad and rounded at the tips, wider than most birds.
Darken your final lines at the end and rub out the guide shapes. That last step is what makes a drawing look finished rather than sketched.
Which eagle should you start with
If this is your first eagle
Start with the sitting eagle or the standing eagle. Both face forward with wings folded and nothing else on the page, so you only think about one shape at a time.
If you have drawn birds before
Try the eagle on a branch, the eagle on a rock or the eagle with a small flag. The pose stays simple and you are only adding one small detail, which makes a drawing feel finished without much extra difficulty.
If you want a challenge
The eagle holding a fish is the hardest here, because the wings, legs and talons are all doing something different at once. The eagle taking off and the eagle landing are a step below it. Draw the angle of the body first in each one, and the wings follow.
What you need
An HB pencil, plain paper and an eraser. A 2B pencil helps if you want darker final lines. Nothing on this page needs a tablet, a light box or special paper, and none of these were drawn with any.
Three things that make an eagle look like an eagle
- The beak is too long and straight. An eagle beak is short and curves down sharply at the tip. Make it too long and straight and you have drawn a hawk or a generic bird.
- The wings are too narrow. Eagle wings are broad from base to tip, not tapered like a small bird. Keep the width even along most of the wing.
- The legs are too thin. Eagle legs are thick and end in strong, curved talons. Thin spindly legs make the bird look weak instead of powerful.
Ways to use these drawings
Copy any of these by hand, or download and print them for yourself, for your children or for your classroom. They work as colouring sheets, tracing practice, a warm up before a bigger drawing, or line art for a card. The eagle with a small flag and the eagle with a small crown both suit celebration cards. If you want to use one in something you sell, write to us first.
Questions people ask
What is the easiest eagle drawing on this page?
The sitting eagle or the standing eagle. Both face forward, have no props and are built from a rounded head, a hooked beak and folded wings.
Are these eagle drawings free to download?
Yes. Every drawing here can be downloaded and printed for personal use, school use or classroom use at no cost. For commercial use, please contact us first.
Can young children draw these?
Most of them. The sitting eagle, the standing eagle and the eagle on a branch all suit children around five and up. The eagle holding a fish and the eagle taking off suit older children and adults.
Why does my eagle look like a generic bird?
Almost always the beak. An eagle beak is short, thick and hooks sharply downward. A long straight beak reads as a stork or a generic cartoon bird instead.
How do I draw an eagle sitting down?
Draw the head first with its hooked beak, then an oval body that tapers toward the tail. Fold the wings smoothly against the sides and add strong, curved talons underneath.
How do I draw an eagle with open wings?
Start with the body and head as usual, then draw both wings spreading outward and slightly upward. Keep the wings broad and even in width rather than pointed at the tips.
What pencil should I use?
An HB for the light guide shapes and a 2B for the final lines. If you only have one pencil, an HB is fine. Press lightly at the start so the guides rub out cleanly.
Are these drawings made by hand?
Yes. Each one was drawn in pencil on plain paper and photographed. They are not computer generated or traced from photographs.