Cute Shoebill Stork

Meet this curious shoebill stork, a tall African wetland bird famous for its enormous shoe-shaped bill, shaggy head crest, broad wings, long legs and widely spread toes. Shoebills stand very still while watching the water for fish, frogs and other small creatures. Children can colour the body in soft blue-grey, slate or silvery shades, make the bill pale tan or warm grey, and use darker grey on the feather tips. Try dusty pink or grey for the legs, bright green for the papyrus reeds and lily pads, blue for the shallow water, and yellow or orange for the little fish. Keep a white sparkle in the eye, colour feather by feather, and add dragonflies, bubbles, flowers or a glowing sun to make this peaceful swamp scene special.

◫ A4 size✎ Bold outlines♡ Ages 3–8

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Make it an activity

Choose a favourite colour palette
Add a simple background
Display the finished artwork

Grown-up note: Please supervise printing and choose age-appropriate art materials.