Today I’m sharing a 17-step guide on how to draw a Mallard duck in full body side view. The structure is pretty straightforward, so it works well if you’re practicing proportions, feather flow, and foot positioning.
What to Pay Attention to While Drawing a Mallard Duck
- Compact oval body shape with slight tilt forward
- Circular head
- Flat, slightly curved bill
- One visible eye with a highlight
- Layered wing feathers arranged across the body
- Short sturdy legs with webbed feet
- Tail feathers tapering off gently
This drawing can pair well with a sketch of a flying duck, a floating on water one, or even a chibi duckling.
Understanding the Drawing Guide
I’ve used three colors in the visual guide to make it easier to follow each part:
- Red Color: shows the current step to focus on
- Black Color: shows previously completed lines
- Grey Color: shows the basic sketch to shape the structure
The flow starts with a light framework and then builds up details like the wing feathers, bill, and legs.
Now that you know how to draw a mallard duck, there are plenty more birds in this series worth tackling, from herons and robins to owls and beyond. New guides get added regularly, so if you want to stay in the loop, there’s an email signup form at the top of the page that sends a weekly digest of fresh tutorials straight to your inbox. You can also follow along on Pinterest or Facebook for updates as new guides roll out.