How To Make an Origami Flapping Bird

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Have you ever wanted to just flap your wings and fly away? Well, here's your chance to flap your wings—the flying away part is a little…more »
Added December 10, 2007

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You Will Need

A square of origami paper folded into a Bird Base
A flat surface

Step 1.
Position Bird Base

Position the Bird Base so that there are separate right and left flaps on the bottom. These flaps will be the tail and neck of the bird.
Step 2.
Fold flap up and at angle

Fold one flap up and out to the side at a 45-degree angle above the center horizontal, pivoting at the center of the model.
Step 3.
Unfold

Unfold.
Step 4.
Fold flap in on itself

Fold the flap in on itself, between the model’s two layers, along the existing creases. This reverse fold creates the tail.
Be sure to create your fold by pivoting at the center of the model, or your bird will flop, not flap.
Step 5.
Repeat the reverse fold

Repeat the reverse fold on the other side, folding the flap up and out to the side at a 45-degree angle above the center horizontal, pivoting at the center of the model, then unfolding and folding the flap in on itself, between the model’s two layers, along the existing creases. This creates the neck.
Step 6.
Fold the head

Fold the tip of the neck in on itself to form a head.
Step 7.
Lower the tail

Grasp the wings and lower the tail slightly so the bottom of the wing is centered in the middle of the tail.
Step 8.
Fold one wing down

Fold down the top of one of the two remaining center flaps diagonally to make a wing by pivoting at the lower corner of the back of the wing. Line up the front edge of the wing against itself and crease softly.
Step 9.
Repeat with other wing

Repeat with the other wing.
Step 10.
Hold bottom of neck and pull the tail

Grasp your bird at the bottom of the neck with one hand. Gently pull the tail with your other hand and. . . up, up, and away!
Did you know? The smallest origami flapping bird on record was made from a square of paper about 1/10 of an inch on each side and mounted on a needle.

Comments View all (9)...

There should be a link to a "bird base"

Reply about 1 year ago by Gbeebani

there is a bird base link. Type in " Bird Base ". Find the link that says " How to make a bird base ".

Reply about 1 year ago by simmons1675

Thanks for the reply, but what I meant was that the link should be more conveniently placed within this page so that users do not have to leave the page and search for it separately.

Reply about 1 year ago by Gbeebani

It's in the 'more from this user' section on the right.

Reply about 1 year ago by nimprojects

I'm only 2 wks into this and love it. At first I also had to keep referring to Bird Base....but! .... after making several, I had it! And my bird's wings flap, too.

Reply about 1 month ago by RubyAnn

You should join the Origami Hub » http://origami.howcast.com/

Reply about 1 month ago by martin

That's a very good comment!! Thanks for pointing it out to us. I will ask Howcast to do that! BTW, were you able to fold the flapping bird successfully? Yours, June

Reply about 1 year ago by foldmaster

i do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply 5 months ago by outlet

Martin, I did join the Hub, thanks. How's it going? I found a book in a Used Book Store about Flying Things, really different than anything I've seen on-line. A Flying Nun, a Maple Tree Seed (helicopter), Gliding Swan, Delta Jet, and so many more! I hope you're enjoying this, too, don't give up! RubyAnn

Reply 8 days ago by RubyAnn

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