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TheAntimonyElement โ€” Bird Wing Tutorial

Published: 2010-01-18 08:52:21 +0000 UTC; Views: 355800; Favourites: 16098; Downloads: 7183
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Description Ta-da! Finally! You peeps requested this, like, AGES ago, and here it is! Hope you learn something! Please don't be scared off by its length, I just talk a lot.

I browsed a bit through dA and I couldn't find a tutorial on bird wings that really covered it ALL--from bones to wing shapes and feather groups. All the tuts I found seemed to assume that you were starting with some basic knowledge of how bird wings worked. I don't know if you are, so here's one that works from the ground up!

Yes, this is based off the tutorial style of the incomparable (Go read her tutorials on drawing humans; I promise you will learn something!) because I feel that it's a very clear and dynamic way to show people stuff. So yeah.

Other Stuff:
Interesting web sites, if you want to learn more:
[link] --Explore this site some--it has some really cool interactive stuff. Also that game! XD My bobolink always gets eaten halfway through.
[link] --some more in-depth stuff on the physics involved.
[link] --lots of info on wing shape and purpose!

Great reference books:
-Birds of Prey: Majestic Masters of the Skies by Paul D. Frost--glorious, two-page spreads full of raptor close-ups. My copy is much loved.
-Raptors of the World by James Ferguson-Lees and David A. Christie--what need I say?
-Reader's Digest Book of North American Birds -- beautifully illustrated, with cool tidbits of information about all the birds.

...and I don't want to hear that you don't have the money to buy books. Libraries need love too, and there is one near you--go get to know it!

All photos that are not from Wikipedia were taken by me. The canada goose picture was found here: [link] and the peregrine falcon here: [link] .

Phew. That was rather exhausting (and hopefully exhaustive! ) so I hope you enjoy and appreciate! Wings are gorgeous; do them justice!

Also: has a wonderful gallery full of images of birds in flight--go check it out, it's a great reference! Thanks to for suggesting it.

:EDIT: HOMFG A DD THANK YOU SO MUCH and !!!!!!
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Comments: 2652

NariChan14 In reply to ??? [2012-11-05 03:45:59 +0000 UTC]

This is wonderful, it helped a lot, thank you so much!

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Whitefire321 In reply to ??? [2012-11-04 19:07:32 +0000 UTC]

Constantly [ie every few months] having to come back to this because i cannot bird. And though usually it's because wings, this time I actually drew a bird [I do dragons] and it looks like... a bird

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MintTeaCup In reply to ??? [2012-11-04 11:55:04 +0000 UTC]

This is very helpful! Thank you for making this tutorial D

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atriaka In reply to ??? [2012-11-03 17:29:16 +0000 UTC]

Great tutorial!
Now I know what Iยดve done wrong....and this is the only tutorial that showed me my mistake
(I made the SF like the PF, not spiky but in the wrong direction)
thank you very much for this awesome tutorial! ;D

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TheMuseNamedPancake In reply to ??? [2012-11-02 15:39:34 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much

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MetolGuy In reply to ??? [2012-10-31 03:03:08 +0000 UTC]

Very informative, thorough, and well-organized tutorial! This helped a lot thanks!

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of-the-skies In reply to ??? [2012-10-31 00:03:15 +0000 UTC]

What kind of wing does a harrier have?

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to of-the-skies [2012-12-02 08:03:15 +0000 UTC]

See for yourself! [link] Harriers are hawks, but they have unusual wings, long and narrow.

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of-the-skies In reply to TheAntimonyElement [2012-12-02 17:06:43 +0000 UTC]

Cool, thanks!

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batmobil In reply to ??? [2012-10-30 02:06:29 +0000 UTC]

thanks , i really respect your effort ..

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wolf-milk In reply to ??? [2012-10-21 04:44:00 +0000 UTC]

I worship you.

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to wolf-milk [2012-10-24 05:03:20 +0000 UTC]

I accept offerings of chocolate and anything shiny, deliverable on Wednesdays and Fridays to my mystical temple of doom.

Seriously, though, you are awesome, thank you!

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romante13 In reply to ??? [2012-10-17 09:34:45 +0000 UTC]

thank you, really great Tutorial!!

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to romante13 [2012-10-24 05:03:31 +0000 UTC]

I'm glad you liked it!

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Dark-Zeblock In reply to ??? [2012-10-14 11:23:57 +0000 UTC]

Hi Just so you know, this tutorial has been featured in journal. [link]

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Dark-Zeblock [2012-10-24 05:04:33 +0000 UTC]

Oh wow, thank you so much for the feature, it really means a lot! :3

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ToAtoneArt In reply to ??? [2012-10-12 05:59:57 +0000 UTC]

omg, so useful!

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to ToAtoneArt [2012-10-24 05:04:40 +0000 UTC]

Glad to hear it!

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Chaico In reply to ??? [2012-10-09 23:50:10 +0000 UTC]

Whaou, It is a verry good tutorial very complet.

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Chaico [2012-10-24 05:04:49 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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PhrogSpawn258 In reply to ??? [2012-10-08 22:19:35 +0000 UTC]

This is awesome and very helpful!

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to PhrogSpawn258 [2012-10-24 05:04:59 +0000 UTC]

I'm glad you liked it.

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Pan-tor In reply to ??? [2012-10-08 06:04:02 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!!! I like your wings.

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Pan-tor [2012-10-24 05:05:15 +0000 UTC]

Haha, I like them too. Wings are the best!

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Sunnycat17 In reply to ??? [2012-10-08 05:04:22 +0000 UTC]

Woah...this is some good stuff for learning...
My thumbs up! owo

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Sunnycat17 [2012-10-24 05:06:01 +0000 UTC]

Ooh, I didn't know DJ-Pon3 had thumbs! Is Lyra rubbing off on her?

For realz though, thank you so much!

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Sunnycat17 In reply to TheAntimonyElement [2012-10-24 14:24:33 +0000 UTC]

Well...imaginary thumbs... *she looks at her own hooves*

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Avanger In reply to ??? [2012-10-07 20:23:36 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for this superb tutorial.

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Avanger [2012-10-24 05:06:13 +0000 UTC]

You're very welcome, glad you liked it!

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crywulf4 In reply to ??? [2012-10-07 06:54:56 +0000 UTC]

What type of wings would chicken wings be? xD
obviously chickens don't fly, so i'm not sure as to what 'wing type' they would have.

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to crywulf4 [2012-10-24 05:13:01 +0000 UTC]

Actually, chickens can fly, just not very well. XD There are wild chickens (the ancestors of the kind that people eat) that live in the jungles of Asia and South America. Even domestic chickens can fly a little if they don't get too fat! Chickens, turkeys, pheasants, peacocks, and all the tasty "game birds" have short, broad wings for quick takeoff and agility (just like a hawk--the both live in the woods). They can't fly very far, but in the wild they are very fast! Take a look: [link] :3

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crywulf4 In reply to TheAntimonyElement [2012-10-24 05:36:59 +0000 UTC]

oh yes, don't i know :U
i have pet chickens. XD

i guess it's also more of their large breasts and weight that they can't fly.

I love the markings on that rooster
thanks; i didn't know about the wild chickens living in the jungles. LOL

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Tensa-chan In reply to ??? [2012-10-06 04:37:33 +0000 UTC]

Best. Wing tutorial. Ever.

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Tensa-chan [2012-10-24 05:13:31 +0000 UTC]

Best. Comment. Ever!

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Dragoness17 In reply to ??? [2012-10-05 11:26:19 +0000 UTC]

Excellent tutorial! Shall definitly be using this to hone my skeelzs.

Thankfully, nobody has the right to pelt me with mouldy cheese. I spend hours on the wiki and Google studying anatomy

Using what I had learnt about wings, I can draw them like this here: [link] Unfortunatly I couldn't find many really clear pictures of folded wings in the position I wanted, so a lot of it was guesswork x(

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Dragoness17 [2012-10-24 05:15:44 +0000 UTC]

Congratulations! That's actually really good, and in a tough pose, too! Just keep practising and you'll find it gets easier and easier--but you're off to a super start!

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mdwp In reply to ??? [2012-10-02 22:56:25 +0000 UTC]

this really helps!!
XD dead things to this

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to mdwp [2012-10-24 05:17:09 +0000 UTC]

Glad to hear it! Love your icon, by the way--very Halloweeny!

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mdwp In reply to TheAntimonyElement [2012-10-26 17:47:09 +0000 UTC]

asgdhfhdsg
danke you should check out the person who made it there awesome

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Gleaming-Hope In reply to ??? [2012-10-02 00:30:08 +0000 UTC]

Pretty much the best bird tutorial I've seen until now. I love how you managed to completely break down the drawing of birds in such a simple manner~ Thank you, thank you very much for sharing this~

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Gleaming-Hope [2012-10-24 05:17:26 +0000 UTC]

You're so welcome, it's comments like this that make it all worthwhile!

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Nekonya96 In reply to ??? [2012-09-30 22:38:34 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much for this tutorial! Now I can do justice to my drawings for all the wrong I've been doing before! I can't wait to start practicing, this is wonderful XD!

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Nekonya96 [2012-10-24 05:17:47 +0000 UTC]

I'm so happy to hear that it helped you! Just keep trying, I promise it gets easier the more you draw! :3

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durfraenky In reply to ??? [2012-09-26 20:43:51 +0000 UTC]

awsome tutorial helped me with this: [link] thank you ^^

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to durfraenky [2012-10-24 05:18:25 +0000 UTC]

Wonderful, the wings are looking nice! Just keep practising and it will get easier and easier. :3

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durfraenky In reply to TheAntimonyElement [2012-10-24 14:31:35 +0000 UTC]

thanks^^

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Lustanjo In reply to ??? [2012-09-25 12:31:17 +0000 UTC]

Very helpful! Thank you so much for that!

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Lustanjo [2012-10-24 05:18:46 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!

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Woodswallow In reply to ??? [2012-09-25 00:18:05 +0000 UTC]

EXCELLENT tutorial, very helpful! Thank you so much for that

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TheAntimonyElement In reply to Woodswallow [2012-10-24 05:18:53 +0000 UTC]

You're very welcome!

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