A round little turkey with a big fan of feathers is the drawing every kid wants to make in November. This guide shows how to draw a turkey step by step with circles, ovals and a few straight lines, so it works for preschoolers and older kids alike.
The free PDF has a step-by-step sheet, a tracing page, a practice sheet with a grid and a coloring page. It makes an easy Thanksgiving table activity, and the finished turkeys look great taped to the wall or folded into place cards.
What’s in the PDF
- Step-by-step sheet with 6 numbered steps; new lines are black, earlier lines are grey
- Tracing page with a large turkey in light grey to trace over
- Practice sheet with a small reference and two boxes with a light grid
- Coloring page with the finished turkey in bold outlines
How to draw a turkey step by step
- Draw the head. Make a small circle near the top middle of your paper.
- Add the body. Draw a big round body right under the head. Let the top of the body tuck under the head a little.
- Draw the tail feathers. Draw seven long, rounded feathers in a fan behind the body, like the top half of a sunflower. Add a line down the middle of the outer feathers.
- Add the wings. Draw a tall oval wing on each side of the body. Let them stick out a little past the body.
- Draw the legs. Add two thin straight legs under the body, each with three short toes.
- Finish the face. Draw two dot eyes, a small triangle beak pointing down, a teardrop wattle hanging next to the beak and two oval cheeks.
Draw the feathers lightly at first. If the fan looks uneven, it is easy to make one feather a little longer or wider before you go over the lines. The order matters too: the head comes first, then the body, and the feathers go behind both. That way you never have to erase a feather line that runs through the body. Little kids can skip the lines inside the feathers and the cheeks; the turkey still looks finished without them.
Trace it first
If drawing freehand feels hard, start with the tracing page. Go over the grey lines with a pencil, pressing lightly, and you will learn the shapes and the order without worrying about mistakes. Then try again on the practice sheet.
Practice on the grid
The practice sheet has a small finished turkey for reference and two boxes with a faint grid. The grid helps with size and spacing: count how many squares tall the turkey is in the reference, then draw it the same way.
Color the finished drawing
Color the feathers in a rainbow of fall colors: red, orange, yellow and brown. Make the body brown, the beak and legs orange and the wattle red. For a Thanksgiving activity, kids can write one thing they are thankful for on each of the seven feathers, then cut the turkey out and tape it to the window or use it as a place card at the table.
Drawing tips for kids
- Start with the head and body; the feathers are easier once those are in place.
- Count the feathers out loud as you draw them: one in the middle, then three on each side.
- Make the head small and the body big; that is what makes a turkey look round and cute.
- Add a pilgrim hat, a pumpkin or a leaf pile to make your turkey a Thanksgiving scene.
- Draw a whole turkey family: a big turkey, a medium one and a tiny baby turkey next to each other.
Download the pages one by one
Prefer a single page? Click a link to open the full-size PNG, then print it or save it. The full PDF with all pages and a cover is in the download box.
- How to draw a turkey: step-by-step sheet (PNG)
- a Turkey tracing page (PNG)
- a Turkey practice sheet with grid (PNG)
- a Turkey coloring page (PNG)
More fall fun: 30 Thanksgiving drawing ideas, Thanksgiving coloring pages and fall coloring pages. More drawing guides: how to draw a bear and how to draw a cat.
FAQ
What is the easiest way to draw a turkey for kids?
Start with a small circle for the head and a big circle for the body. Add a fan of rounded feathers behind the body, two oval wings, stick legs and a simple face with a triangle beak.
How do you draw a handprint turkey?
Trace around your hand with the fingers spread. The thumb becomes the head and neck, and the four fingers become the tail feathers. Add an eye, a beak, a wattle and two legs. You can find a handprint turkey on our Thanksgiving drawing ideas page.
How many feathers should a turkey drawing have?
Any number works. This guide uses seven because an odd number keeps the fan even, with one feather in the middle and three on each side.
What paper should I print it on?
Plain US Letter printer paper works for sketching. Use cardstock if your kids will color with markers or want to keep their drawings.
Can I use these pages in my classroom?
Yes. The pages are free for personal and classroom use. Print a copy for every student, and link to this page instead of sharing the PDF file.
