Species order and family: Pelicaniformes, Pelicanidae

Size: 4.6–5.6 ft (140–170 cm) (Its bill is about 17.7 in [45 cm])

Lives in the vicinity of lakes, marshes, and estuaries. Has a throat pouch in the bottom of its bill. Feeds cooperatively with other pelicans to trap and catch fish.

Pelican’s body

Colored pencils used for pelican

Roughly draw the shape with your tan pencil. It’s easiest to get the shape right if you draw in this order: bill, head, neck, back, wing, tail, belly, thighs, legs, and feet.

Color in the bill with deep yellow, and then switch to light mauve to fill in the eye area and the top part of the bill.

Draw the eye with black, and then with medium blue, add a line on the top part and in the middle of the bill.

Color in the top portion of the bill again using deep red, giving it a defined shape.

Layer the colors of the lower part of the bill with light mauve and yellow, and then use the same colors to give the neck and chest a faint yellow hue.

Draw the legs and feet in light mauve, turning the toes slightly inward.

Pressing lightly with light pink, draw tufts of feathers and outline the wing. Layer over the legs and feet with the same color.

Using black, draw the tips of the wing and tail. Then lightly add a coat of feathers over the entire body with your bluish gray pencil.

Fill in the areas left on the body with white.

It’s fun to draw them with different expressions.

With its throat pouch contracted...

With it expanded...