Bird Wing Tutorial

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 !!!!!!