How to Make a Origami Drinking Bird

Origami Drinking Bird

drinking bird

I love this drinking bird origami model because it is easy to make and once done, you can use it as a toy. The bird's head can move up and down as if it is taking a drink from the bowl in front of it.

This type of origami is called "action" origami because it can perform an action. Other action models include spinning tops, inflatable balls, jumping frogs, flapping birds, and more. Are you ready to start?

Instructions for Origami Drinking Bird

drinking bird

Step 1:

Start with a square sheet of paper with the colored-side facing up.

Fold and unfold in half along the diagonals in both directions to get an X crease mark.

drinking bird

Step 2:

Turn the paper over. Fold in half from left to right. Unfold.

drinking bird

Step 3:

Fold the paper in half top to bottom.

drinking bird

Step 4:

Push the left and right upper corners of the paper towards one another. At the same time, allow the top layer to come towards you.

drinking bird

Allow the point (red dot) to lift up.
Almost there.

drinking bird
Swivel the front flap of paper towards
the right. There should be a similar flap of paper behind the model, fold this one towards the left.

This structure is a "preliminary base" – you'll see it in origami all the time.

drinking bird

Step 5:

Fold the bottom-left and bottom-right edges of the paper towards the center to meet with the vertical crease line.

drinking bird

Step 6:

Fold the top part of the model downwards as shown.

drinking bird

Step 7:

Unfold the last 3 moves bringing the model back to the preliminary base.

drinking bird

Step 8:

Lift the top layer of paper (red dot) upwards. Transitional steps shown below.


Keep lifting the top layer of paper up. Some of the creases made in step 5 and 6 will be reversed from valley to mountain folds.

drinking bird

Step 9:

This is how the model will look like after you've lifted the flap up completely.

Turn the model over.

drinking bird

Step 10:

Repeat step 5: fold the bottom-left and bottom-right edges of the paper towards the center to meet with the vertical crease line.

drinking bird

Unfold.

drinking bird

Step 11:

Lift the top layer up as in step 8.


Keep lifting. Right panel shows how it looks like when you are done.

drinking bird

Step 12:

On the right side, swing one layer of paper toward the left. On the back side of the model, do the opposite, swing the left side of the model towards the right. It is similar to turning the pages of a book.

drinking bird

Step 13:

Fold one of the bottom layers up.

drinking bird

Step 14:

This next step is called the "rabbit ear" fold. First, fold the top flap down so the left edge of the paper meets with the horizontal crease.

drinking bird
Unfold

drinking bird

Step 15:

Repeat on the other side: fold the top flap down so the right edge meets the horizontal crease.

drinking bird

Step 16:

Using the two creases made above, pinch the paper together. A new flap will be formed and it will be perpendicular to the model.

drinking bird

Step 17:

Fold the right side of the model in half so it is stacked behind the left side of the model. The "rabbit ear" made in the previous step will swing towards the right.

drinking bird

Step 18:

rotate the model counter-clockwise, quarter turn.

drinking bird

Step 19:

Get ready to make the head of the drinking bird. You will do an "inside reverse" fold.

drinking bird
Fold the tip down.

drinking bird
Unfold.

drinking bird
Pry open the two layers of paper and push the bird's head in between the layers.

The drinking bird head is done.


This is how the model will look like. Notice the small pocket under the birds neck (shown with blue asterisk). Flair open the "bowl" part of the model and you're done.


Does your bird want a drink? To make it drink, hold the model frimly with your right hand. Insert your left forefinger & thumb into the pockets (shown with blue asterisk). Lift your forefinger and thumb, and the bird's head will automatically bob up and down towards the bowl.