Bird Coloring Pages

From the robin on your lawn to a macaw in the rainforest, birds come in more colors than any box of crayons. These free bird coloring pages include a cardinal on a snowy branch, a hummingbird at a flower, a flamingo on one leg, a bald eagle and a nest full of chicks. Use them for a backyard bird unit or as a quiet break at the kitchen table.

Birds you can color

  • American robin: a gray-brown back, a brick-orange breast and a yellow bill
  • Northern cardinal: the male is bright red with a black mask, and the female is warm tan with red tinges
  • Blue jay: blue, white and black with a pointed crest
  • Hummingbird: the only bird that can fly backward
  • Macaw: a large parrot in red, blue, yellow or green with a very long tail
  • Flamingo: hatches gray and turns pink from pigments in the algae and shrimp it eats
  • Bald eagle: adults have a white head and tail, a dark brown body and a yellow beak
  • Peacock: the male fans out a train of feathers covered in blue and green eyespots

Bird facts and feather tips for bird coloring pages

Birds are the only living animals with feathers. Every bird hatches from an egg, but not every bird flies: ostriches run and penguins swim instead. Many of a bird's bones are hollow, which keeps the body light enough to get off the ground. In lots of species the male is the bright one and the female is plainer, which helps her stay hidden on the nest.

Feathers overlap like roof shingles, so color them in rows from the tail toward the head. Use short curved strokes with a colored pencil and let each row get slightly darker at the tips. For shiny birds such as hummingbirds and peacocks, layer blue over green, or purple over blue, to copy the way the feathers shift in the light. Beaks and legs are usually yellow, orange, gray or black. If you want true colors, a field guide shows every marking.

Frequently asked questions

Are these bird coloring pages free?

Yes. All bird coloring pages are free to download and print for personal and classroom use.

Which bird coloring sheets work for preschoolers?

Go for the Easy pages, such as the round bird on a branch, the chick hatching from an egg and the bird at a birdhouse. Each has a few large sections, so a preschooler can fill it in with three or four crayons.

Do you have detailed bird coloring pages for adults?

Yes. The Detailed pages include a peacock with a full train, a realistic bald eagle and a hummingbird among trumpet flowers. Fine-tip markers and sharp pencils handle the small feather shapes best.

What color is a female cardinal?

Mostly warm tan or light brown, with reddish tinges on the wings, tail and crest. She has the same orange-red bill as the male. Coloring a pair side by side is a good way to show kids the difference.