When we think of spring, we think of the weather getting warmer, flowers beginning to bloom, trees budding, and new life starting. But the most iconic sound of the season? The cheerful cheep-cheep of baby birds hatching and the busy fluttering of wings in the garden!
Birds are fascinating creatures that capture the imagination of children. From the iridescent feathers of a peacock to the clever mimicry of a parrot, our feathered friends offer endless inspiration for creativity. This spring, why not bring the beauty of nature indoors?
Whether you are a teacher looking for classroom activities, a parent wanting to reduce screen time, or a caregiver seeking a rainy-day project, this ultimate guide to 50 Easy Spring Bird Crafts has you covered. We have categorized these crafts to help you use whatever materials you have on hand—be it paper plates, toilet rolls, or egg cartons.
Why We Love Birds: Fun Facts for Kids
Before we dive into the glue and glitter, let’s learn a little about the creatures we are creating. Teaching kids why they are making a craft adds immense educational value to the activity.
- Why do birds sing more in spring? Spring is the start of the nesting season. Male birds sing loud and proud to mark their territory and attract a mate. It’s their way of saying, “Look at this great spot I found for a home!”
- The mimic masters: Did you know that parrots aren’t the only ones who can copy sounds? Crows, ravens, and starlings are also excellent mimics. Some can even sound like car alarms or other animals!
- Feather facts: A bird’s feathers weigh more than its skeleton! This is because their bones are hollow to help them fly, while their feathers are strong and plentiful to keep them warm and dry.
- The sleepy flamingo: Flamingos often stand on one leg to preserve body heat. Tucking one leg up into their feathers keeps it warm while the other one does the work.
Now that we are budding ornithologists (that’s a scientist who studies birds!), let’s get crafting.
Category 1: Paper Plate Aviary
Paper plates are a staple in any craft cupboard. Their sturdy texture and round shape make them perfect for bird bodies.
1. The Rocking Spring Robin
- Materials: Paper plate, brown paint, red paint, googly eyes, yellow paper.
- How to make: Fold a paper plate in half. Paint the curved bottom red (for the robin’s breast) and the rest brown. Cut a yellow triangle beak and glue it to one end. Add a googly eye. When you stand it up on the curved edge, it rocks back and forth like a pecking bird!
2. The Rainbow Parrot
- Materials: Paper plate, colorful tissue paper squares, glue, scissors.
- How to make: Cut the paper plate in half. This semi-circle is the parrot’s body. Cover it entirely with overlapping squares of bright tissue paper (red, blue, green, yellow). Add a beak and a tail made from cardstock strips.
3. The Paper Plate Peacock
- Materials: Paper plate, blue paint, green sequins or glitter, construction paper.
- How to make: Cut the plate into a fan shape (about 2/3 of the plate). Paint it green and decorate with “eyes” made of blue sequins to look like tail feathers. Cut a separate blue body shape from cardstock and glue it to the center of the fan.
4. The Snowy Owl: Glue cotton balls all over a paper plate and add two giant yellow circles for eyes. 5. The Pink Flamingo: Use a paper plate for the body and two long pink pipe cleaners for the legs. 6. The Bluebird: Paint the plate bright blue and add an orange chest patch. 7. The Nesting Bird: Cut a paper plate in half to make a “pocket” nest, and place paper stick puppets of baby birds inside. 8. The Toucan: Use the plate as the body and attach a massive, colorful beak made from cardstock. 9. The Swan: Use a white paper plate and trace a handprint for the elegant neck and head. 10. The Chicken: A yellow paper plate with an orange beak and feet makes a classic spring chick.
Category 2: Recycled Roost (Toilet Rolls & Egg Cartons)
Don’t throw away your recycling! These items are perfect for 3D bird crafts.
11. Toilet Roll Binoculars Before you spot real birds, you need equipment!
- Materials: Two toilet rolls, string, paint, tape.
- How to make: Paint or decorate two toilet rolls. Tape or glue them together side-by-side. Punch holes on the outer sides and attach a string so your child can wear them. Now, go on a bird watch!
12. The Egg Carton Penguin
- Materials: Egg carton cup, black paint, white paint, orange paper.
- How to make: Cut a single cup from an egg carton. Flip it upside down. Paint the back and sides black, and the “tummy” white. Add a tiny orange beak.
13. The Cardboard Tube Crow
- Materials: Toilet roll, black paint, black craft feathers.
- How to make: Paint the tube black. Glue real black craft feathers to the sides for wings. This adds a great sensory texture for toddlers.
14. The Hungry Hatchling: Use two egg carton cups hinged with tape. Put a worm (made of yarn) inside so the bird can “eat.” 15. The Owl Family: Use different sizes of cardboard tubes (paper towel vs. toilet roll) to make a daddy, mommy, and baby owl. 16. The Confetti Bird: Coat a toilet roll in glue and roll it in birdseed (for an outdoor decoration) or colorful paper confetti (for indoors). 17. The Carton Peacock: Use the egg carton lid as the spread-out tail feathers and the cup as the body. 18. The Stacked Totem Pole: Stack painted toilet roll birds on top of each other. 19. The Easter Chick: Paint an egg carton cup yellow and add orange pipe cleaner feet. 20. The Flying Tube: Attach streamers to the bottom of a painted toilet roll bird so it looks like it’s flying when you run with it.
Category 3: Handprint & Footprint Keepsakes
These crafts double as memories of how small your child’s hands once were.
21. The Handprint Bald Eagle
- Materials: Brown paint, white paper.
- How to make: Paint the palm of the hand brown and the fingers brown. Press onto paper. Turn the print upside down—the fingers are the tail feathers! Paint a white head and yellow beak at the palm end.
22. The Flamingo Footprint
- Materials: Pink paint, paper.
- How to make: Paint your child’s foot pink and stamp it on paper. The heel is the head, and the toes are the tail feathers. Draw long legs coming down from the footprint.
23. The “High Five” Swan: Trace the hand on white paper. The thumb is the neck/head, and the fingers are the wings feathers. 24. The Peacock Fan: Trace four or five hands on different colored paper. Cut them out and fan them behind a bird body cutout. 25. The Lovebirds: Use two thumbprints in different colors pressing against each other to form a heart shape. Add beaks and legs with a marker. 26. The Cardinal: A red handprint with a black mask drawn on the thumb (the head). 27. The Fingerprint Wire Birds: Draw a “wire” line across the page. Let kids dip their fingertips in paint to create “birds on a wire.” 28. The Turkey: Classic handprint with brown palm and colorful finger feathers. 29. The Dove: White handprints on blue paper representing peace. 30. The Mother Hen: A large handprint for the hen and tiny thumbprints for the chicks around her.
Category 4: Creative & Colorful Flyers
For when you want to get a little more artistic with different materials.
31. The Coffee Filter Peacock
- Materials: Coffee filters, washable markers, spray bottle.
- How to make: Color a coffee filter with blue, purple, and green markers. Spray it lightly with water and watch the colors bleed and blend (tie-dye effect!). Once dry, this becomes the beautiful tail fan.
32. The Popsicle Stick Pterodactyl (Prehistoric Bird!)
- Materials: Craft sticks, green paint, construction paper.
- How to make: Glue three sticks in a triangle for the body. Cut wings from paper and attach them. It’s a fun way to discuss the evolution of birds!
33. The Cupcake Liner Owl: Flatten a cupcake liner for the body and use two smaller white circles for the big owl eyes. 34. The Yarn-Wrapped Blue Jay: Cut a cardboard bird shape and let kids wrap blue yarn around it. Great for fine motor skills! 35. The Paper Bag Puppet: Use a lunch bag to create a bird puppet that can actually “talk.” 36. The Plastic Spoon Stork: Use a white plastic spoon as the body and head; glue paper wings to the handle. 37. The Pinecone Bird: Turn a pinecone on its side. It naturally looks like ruffled feathers! Add a felt face. 38. The CD Reflector Bird: Use an old CD as the body. It reflects light, which can actually help keep real pests away from your garden! 39. The Tissue Box Birdhouse: Decorate an empty tissue box to look like a birdhouse. (Note: For indoor play only). 40. The Origami Crane: For older kids, teach the ancient art of paper folding.
Category 5: Practical Bird Feeders
Spring is a busy time for birds, and they get hungry! These crafts serve a real purpose in your garden.
41. The Cheerio Necklace: Thread circle cereal onto a pipe cleaner. Twist it into a circle and hang it on a branch. 42. The Orange Cup Feeder: Hollow out half an orange. Poke holes for string to hang it, and fill the hollow peel with birdseed. 43. The Pinecone Peanut Butter Feeder: Coat a pinecone in peanut butter (or lard) and roll it in seeds. 44. The Milk Carton House: Cut a hole in a clean milk carton, paint it, and fill the bottom with seeds. 45. The Cookie Cutter Cake: Mix gelatin and birdseed, press it into cookie cutter shapes, and let it harden. Hang with a ribbon.
The Final 5: Quick & Easy Fillers
46. Feather Painting: Use a real (clean/craft) feather as a paintbrush to create interesting textures. 47. Bird Masks: Cut eye holes in a paper plate and add a beak for a costume. 48. Clay Birds: Use air-dry clay to sculpt small birds. 49. Beaded Birds: Use perler beads to create pixel-art style birds. 50. Chalk Art Birds: Go outside and draw massive life-sized eagles or tiny hummingbirds on the driveway.
Conclusion
Spring is the perfect season to disconnect from devices and reconnect with the natural world. These 50 easy spring bird crafts provide a wonderful opportunity to teach children about biology, colors, and the importance of caring for our wildlife.