How to Draw a Dove Step by Step
This is the dove we drew ourselves, one step at a time. It is a dove resting on a branch, much like a real mourning dove or pigeon. Follow along and pause after each picture so you can keep up. In every step, the new line you add is shown in red, and the lines you already drew are in black.
Step 1: Start the head and neck. Draw a light, curved line for the top of the head and the back of the neck. Press softly so it is easy to fix.
Step 2: Add the chest. Bring a curved line down the front to make the dove’s chest and breast.
Step 3: Draw the lower body. Add the bottom of the body and the start of the tail at the back.
Step 4: Round out the belly. Draw a soft curve along the bottom for the dove’s round belly.
Step 5: Add the wing feathers. Draw short, curved lines on the side of the body so the wing looks full and feathery.
Step 6: Draw the tail feathers. Add the long, pointed tail feathers at the back of the body.
Step 7: Add the beak and eye. Draw a small beak on the front of the head. Then add one little eye with a dot inside.
Step 8: Clean up your outline. Go over your best lines so you have one clear dove shape. Erase any extra guide marks.
Step 9: Add the feet. Draw two little feet with tiny claws where the dove will hold on.
Step 10: Smooth the body. Tidy up the body and wing so the whole shape looks soft and round.
Step 11: Add more wing detail. Draw a few more feather lines on the wing as your dove sits up nicely.
Step 12: Draw the branch. Add a branch under the dove’s feet so it has a place to perch.
Step 13: Add small twigs. Draw a few thin twigs coming off the branch for a real, outdoor look.
Step 14: Connect the legs. Draw the legs so they join the body to the branch in a neat way.
Step 15: Trace and finish. Go over your final lines with a black marker. Your dove sitting on a branch is done. Now you can color it!
Another Easy Way: How to Draw a Flying Peace Dove
Want the classic peace dove with open wings and an olive branch? Here is a simple way to draw a flying dove. It is a favorite for cards, school projects, and wall art. These steps use words only, so take your time and use light lines.
- Step 1: Draw the head. Near the top of your paper, draw a small oval for the head.
- Step 2: Add the beak. On the front of the head, draw a tiny triangle. This is where the olive branch will go.
- Step 3: Draw the eye. Add one small circle, then fill in a dot for the pupil.
- Step 4: Draw the body. Below and behind the head, draw a larger oval that tilts down a bit. This is the body.
- Step 5: Draw the top wing. Sweep a big curved line up from the body to make an open wing. Doves in flight hold their wings high.
- Step 6: Add the wing feathers. Along the bottom of the wing, draw a row of soft “U” shapes for the long flight feathers.
- Step 7: Draw the second wing. Add another wing behind the first one so it peeks out.
- Step 8: Draw the tail feathers. At the back of the body, draw a few pointed shapes that fan out.
- Step 9: Add the olive branch. Draw a small twig coming from the beak, then add a few teardrop-shaped leaves.
- Step 10: Finish and color. Add two tiny feet, erase the extra lines, trace with a black marker, and color the dove white with a green branch. Your flying white dove is done!
How to Draw an Olive Branch
The olive branch is what turns a plain bird into a peace dove. It is simple to draw:
- Draw one curved line for the stem.
- Add small leaves shaped like teardrops in pairs along the stem.
- Draw one or two little oval olives.
- Add a thin line down the middle of each leaf for detail.
Color the branch green, and you’re set.
Coloring Your Dove
Most doves are white, so you can leave the body plain and add soft gray or light blue for the shadows. This makes the white plumage pop.
Real doves come in other colors too. Mourning doves are soft brown and tan. Rock pigeons, which belong to the same bird family, are often gray with a shiny neck. So if you want a more realistic dove, reach for gray and brown crayons or colored pencils.
Want an easy way to practice colors? Print out a dove coloring page and fill it in with your favorite shades before you try drawing your own.
What Does a Dove With an Olive Branch Mean?
A dove holding an olive branch, or an olive leaf, is a famous symbol of peace.
The idea is very old. In the story of Noah’s ark, Noah sent out a dove to see if a great flood was over. The dove came back with an olive leaf in its beak. That leaf was a sign that dry land and new life had returned. Ever since, the dove and olive branch have stood for peace and hope.
Later, the artist Pablo Picasso drew a simple dove for a world peace meeting in 1949. His peace dove became famous around the globe. Doves also stand for love and purity, which is why you often see them at weddings and in Christian art as a sign of the Holy Spirit.
Dove vs. Pigeon: What’s the Difference?
A lot of people ask this. The truth is, doves and pigeons are very close cousins. They both belong to the same bird family, called Columbidae.
In everyday words, “dove” usually means a smaller, slimmer bird, while “pigeon” means a larger one. But the names are often swapped. A white peace dove and a city rock pigeon are really the same kind of bird wearing different colors. So when you learn how to draw a dove, you are also learning how to draw a pigeon.