To draw a simple turkey, first draw a big circle to make the turkey’s body. Then, draw a smaller circle over the left half of the first circle to make the head. Next, add 1 line running from the center of the head to the left edge of the body, and make a parallel line starting from the right side of the head for the neck. Erase the overlapping lines to combine the head, neck, and body into 1 solid shape. Then, draw 2 touching circles inside the head to make the eyes, and add a cone-shaped beak underneath. Draw a small teardrop shape coming out of the bottom of the beak to make the turkey’s wattle. Now, draw feathers coming off the turkey’s backside. Add 2 thin lines coming out of the bottom of the turkey to give it legs. Finally, draw 2 toes in front of each leg and 1 toe on the back of each leg to finish your turkey. For more tips, including how to draw a realistic turkey, scroll down!
How to Draw a Turkey
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If you think that drawing a Turkey is too difficult, you may be surprised to know that it is not. There are many ways of drawing a Turkey. You might have relished a Thanksgiving Turkey before but now you will make them. This tutorial will show you four different ways to draw a turkey. Let’s begin!
Steps
Method 1
Method 1 of 5:
Cartoon Turkey (Beginners)
Draw a squash shape.
Draw a triangle in the center of the top of your squash.
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Draw two circles slightly above the triangle.
Draw two, darker circles inside of the circles already drawn.
Draw a squiggle-line extending from the triangle.
Draw elongated ovals extended from the squash, until it resembles a fan.
Draw two, even lines extending from the bottom of the turkey.
Draw two diagonal lines, extending from close to the bottom of the lines.
Shade your turkey in the desired colors.
Finished.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 5:
Cartoon Turkey (Intermediate)
Draw a circle.
Sketch a small circle on the right side of the big circle. Connect the small circle with the big one using two curved lines so that it will look like a head, neck and body. Add two curved lines that make a pointed angle on the head for the beak.
Sketch two lines with an angle attached to the body. Draw a triangle on the ends of each line for the turkey’s legs.
Draw a fan-like structure on the rear part of the turkey.
Draw the eyes using small circles. Add a curved line line for the eyebrows. Draw the mouth and a dot for the nostril.
Draw the neck and the caruncles using curved lines cascading from the beak to the neck.
Draw the wings using a big fluffy shape with three curved lines for the feathers.
Using the outline, sketch out the turkey’s body and add the legs. Sketch a series of curved lines forming a collar just below the neck for feather design.
Draw the feet. A turkey’s feet has three claws in front and a small one at the back.
Sketch two layers containing a series of curved lines for the turkey’s fan-like tail. Make the second layer bigger and more elaborate than the first one.
Erase unnecessary lines.
Color the drawing.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 5:
Drawing Realistic Turkey
Draw a big circle for the body and an oblong overlapping the big circle on the right side.
Add a small circle for the head and connect this to the oblong using two curved lines that serves as the neck. Add two small curved lines that form a pointed angle to the right side of the head for the beak.
Draw lines for a rough outline of the legs and add a triangle on each end for the feet.
Draw a curved line on the left side of the turkey and a fan-like structure for the tail attached to the curved line.
Draw the eyes and define the beak. Draw the snood and the caruncles of the neck using curved strokes.
Sketch out the body, taking note of the feather patterns. Note that the back portion of the turkey is a little bumpy so you can sketch out a few outlines of the feathers too.
Darken the fan-like shape of the turkey’s tail.
Sketch and define the legs and toes.
Draw random small strokes all over the turkey’s body for a feathery appearance.
Erase unnecessary lines and refine the feathers using small curved strokes.
Color the drawing.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 5:
Making a Chef Turkey
Draw an oblong with an overlapping big circle below it. This will form the sketch for the turkey’s body and head.
Draw the details of the turkey’s head using circles and curve lines for the beak.
Draw details for the wattle and the head.
Draw the turkey’s hat or toque to look like a cartoon.
Draw details for the left wing using curve lines and also for the feet.
Draw the right wing which holds a ladle. Draw also details for the cooking pot.
Draw the turkey’s fan-shaped tail and details for the feathers.
Trace with a black pen.
Color to your liking, then design the background.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 5:
Making a Roasted Turkey
Draw a horizontally elongated oblong.
Draw a more flattened and elongated oblong below the first with an inner overlapping oblong. This will be the plate.
Draw the details for the cut head, wings, and butt.
Draw an oblong near the butt with small circles or oblongs below it.
Draw the details for the turkey’s leg with a sketch for the leg bone. Draw details for leaves.
Trace with a pen and erase unnecessary lines. Add details.
Color to your liking!
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Community Q&A
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Question
I want to draw a cop turkey. How can I?
Undertale4141
Top Answerer
This article gives you the guidelines, but you should feel free to adapt and change it however you like. Add some police gear to your turkey.
Thanks! We’re glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
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Question
Are there other ways to draw one?
HatHatHat
Community Answer
Turkeys can be draw in many ways, varying from different angles, styles, and species of turkey. If you are looking for other ways, feel free to look for them on other resources or ask a person who can draw to either explain it to you or give you a tutorial.
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How to Draw a Turkey
Learn how to draw a great looking Turkey with easy, step-by-step drawing instructions, and video tutorial.
By following the simple steps, you too can easily draw a perfect Turkey.
Complete Turkey drawing
Turkeys are large birds native to the Americas. The turkey was first domesticated in Mexico around 800 B.C., and it has since been farmed for its meat and feathers.
When European settlers first discovered the animal, they brought it back to the Eurasian continent.
The merchant ships traveled through nation of Turkey, and the bird began to be raised there. This is likely how the turkey got its name.
Domesticated turkeys are now found in barnyards throughout the world, but the smaller wild turkeys can still be seen in their native habitat.
Other bird drawing tutorials:
- Learn to draw over 30 different birds
- How to draw a Hummingbird
- Step by step Roasted Turkey drawing instructions
- Easy Cardinal bird drawing instructions.
In the United States, for instance, it is not uncommon to see small flocks of a few individuals strolling through backyards and neighborhood parks. In rural areas, a single flock may include hundreds of individuals.
Male turkeys dance and use their brightly colored tails and wattles to attract a mate.
The turkey has appeared in artwork for a very long time. Its feathers (learn to draw bird feathers) were used by Native Americans to make blankets, robes, and ceremonial garb. It is one of the birds featured in John James Audobon’s famous Birds of America.
Scroll down for a downloadable PDF of this tutorial.
Today, the turkey is perhaps known best for its role in Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners (see all Thanksgiving and Christmas drawing tutorials). As such, turkeys feature prominently in decorations for the Thanksgiving holiday.
In 2010, turkeys played a starring role in the animated film, Free Birds, in which a time traveling turkey tries to change history by making pizza the official food of Thanksgiving.
Would you like to draw your very own turkey? Doing so is easier than ever with this simple, step-by-step drawing tutorial.
All you will need is a pencil, an eraser, and a piece of paper. You may also wish to use paints, crayons, colored pencils, or markers to shade your finished drawing.
In each step, follow the written instructions as well as the accompanying illustration. New lines are highlighted in blue.
Are you ready to gobble up this turkey drawing guide?
If you liked this tutorial, see also the following drawing guides: Chicken, Feather, and Duck.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Drawing a Turkey
How to Draw a Great Looking Turkey for Kids, Beginners, and Adults – Step 1
1. Begin by drawing a small circle and a large oval. The circle will form the turkey’s head, while the oval will form the wing.
Easy Turkey Drawing – Step 2
2. Connect the head and wing using a long, curved line and a short, curved line. The enclosed shape forms the turkey’s neck and body.
Easy Turkey Drawing – Step 3
3. Add feathers to the wing. Do so by drawing several scalloped, curved lines across the wing.
Easy Turkey Drawing – Step 4
4. Draw the beak using curved lines, forming a rounded triangle. Draw a circle to indicate the eye, and a smaller circle within it. Shade the smaller circle.
MORE DRAWING TUTORIALS:
How to Draw a Duck
How to Draw an Eagle
How to Draw a Bird
Easy Turkey Drawing – Step 5
5. Erase the guide lines from the beak and wing.
Easy Turkey Drawing – Step 6
6. Draw the turkey’s wattle, the fleshy adornment around its beak. Do so by enclosing irregular shapes using curved lines. Then, draw the feet. For each foot, extend two curved, parallel lines from the body, forming the legs. Then, use a series of curved, “U” shaped lines to enclose the toes.
Easy Turkey Drawing – Step 7
7. Erase the guide lines from the legs and wattle.
MORE DRAWING TUTORIALS:
How to Draw a Goose
How to Draw a Raven
How to Draw a Hummingbird
Add More Details to Your Turkey Picture – Step 8
8. Draw the turkey’s fan-like tail. Draw a long, scalloped line – a line made of short, curved lines connected to one another.
Complete the Outline of Your Turkey Drawing – Step 9
9. Add detail to the tail. Draw a straight line from the base of the tail to each of the downward points along the scalloped line, indicating individual feathers.
Color Your Turkey Drawing
10. Color your turkey. Turkeys are generally brown with a red wattle, but they can include tones of grey, orange, and even blue or green. Some turkeys are solid white.
For more great Bird drawing tutorials, see the 41 Best Bird Drawing Tutorials post.
Easy, step by step Turkey drawing tutorial
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Turkey Drawing Tutorial – Easy & Fun Printable Pages
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Turkey Drawing Instructions
If your kids and guests need an activity to keep them busy while the Holiday dinner cooks, this cute turkey drawing is perfect. After you have drawn this easy turkey drawing you will want to check out more things to draw, including a beautiful rose and cute unicorn!
How to draw a turkey for Beginners
Grab a piece of paper and follow these step-by-step instructions and you will learn how to draw a cartoon turkey before you even start your Thanksgiving dinner. Download and print the steps on plain copy paper. Set these sheets along with plain paper (or cover the table in white butcher paper) and colored pencils and the kids will have a great time!
- Start with a big circle for the turkey body
- Add a skinny neck, continue by drawing a small circle to make the turkey’s head, then add a hat and beak.
- Put in an eyeball and give him a wing.
- Add tail feathers
- Next, add legs and turkey feet.
- Give him some color and you are done.
my favorite drawing supplies
- Sketching Pencils
- Kneaded Rubber Eraser
- Sketch Pad
- Erasable Colored Pencils
- Fine markers
- Sketch and Drawing Art Pencil Set
- Artist drawing set (This is great for new and experiencedartists. It’s also something I give as a gift.)
I hope the activities provide fun ways to keep kids and adults busy at your gatherings. If you are looking for more ideas for family check these out.
- You might like these turkey coloring pages for ideas on more turkeys to sketch.D
- Show your thankfulness by listing those things you are grateful for with these Thanksgiving coloring pages.
- Thanksgiving Trivia – test your guests’ knowledge with these free printable trivia sheets
- Thanksgiving Conversation Starters – often it can be hard to get the conversation started. Don’t worry these printable questions ensure lively conversations.
- Make a Pilgrim Hat
- Making a Pilgrim Bonnet is a fun craft.
- Make a Mayflower Ship – printable paper makes it easy to fold this boat and they look great filled with candy at your Thanksgiving table!
- Easy Pumpkin sketch to go with your cartoon turkey! Use these pumpkin coloring pages for inspiration.
Have fun this holiday with these activities!
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