In this quick tutorial you'll learn how to draw an African Penguin in 7 easy steps - great for kids and novice artists.
The images above represent how your finished drawing is going to look and the steps involved.
Below are the individual steps - you can click on each one for a High Resolution printable PDF version.
At the bottom you can read some interesting facts about the African Penguin.
Make sure you also check out any of the hundreds of drawing tutorials grouped by category.
How to Draw an African Penguin - Step-by-Step Tutorial
Step 1: Draw a semicircle with an angle inside it as shown in the image guide for the beak.
Step 2: Add a curve over the beak that goes down into a long line. Add a tiny curve under the end of the first one.
Step 3: Draw another curve like the first next to it.
Step 4: Draw a long curve under the beak that connects to the back. Add two squares on the bottom.
Step 5: Under each square, draw two lines for legs, connected to triangles for feet. Add a line in the middle of each triangle to define the toes.
Step 6: Draw one curve connecting to the upper back, and another connecting to the front of the body, for wings.
Step 7: Draw a little circle near the beak for an eye, and add patches on the face, chest, and back. You are done! These penguins have a call that sounds like a braying donkey. African penguins have a pattern of black spots on their chests that are as unique to them as a human’s fingerprint.
Interesting Facts about the African penguin
The African penguin is a medium sized penguin that is the only penguin that is native in Africa. Like the signature idea that people hold of penguins, they are only black and white in color on their bodies when they are adults. You will find these penguins living in colonies on 24 different islands that can be found all along the coast between Namibia and Port Elizabeth.
Did you know?
- The ends of the feathers on a penguins body has muscles so that when the penguin is swimming underwater making a waterproof seal on the body, and when they are on land the feathers are held out creating an insulation of air around the body
- These penguins are able to dive up to 130m deep into the water and able to hold their breath for an average time of 2.5 minutes without having to return to the surface for air
- African penguins will commonly grow to be around 60cm tall, the males normally being slightly larger than the females, and will typically weigh between 2.4 and 3.6kg
- This penguin goes by another not-so-nice name of “jackass penguin” because of the call that it makes that sounds a lot like the loud noise of a donkey
How to Draw an African Penguin – Step-by-Step Tutorial