How to Fold an Origami Eagle

This easy origami eagle was designed by Nicolas Terry, a well-known origami artist and founder of Origami-shop.

It is a quick and satisfying model to fold, with a bold silhouette, a strong pointed beak, and sharply angled wings that give it a sense of motion even when standing still.

The folding sequence is smooth and relaxing, with no complicated steps, making it a great model to fold when you want something simple and striking.

You can finish it in about five minutes, but the result feels sharp, sculptural, and full of presence.

Origami Eagle Step-by-Step Instructions

• Difficulty: Easy – Beginner Level 3
• Folding time: 5 minutes

Step 1

Start with the white side of the paper facing up in a diamond position. Fold and unfold the vertical diagonal.

Step 2

Fold the horizontal diagonal from bottom to top.

Step 3

Bring the top layer’s top corner down to meet the bottom edge. Pinch the center lightly to make a reference point.

Step 4

Fold the same top corner down to meet the pinch you just made. Then, unfold.

Step 5

Fold the bottom edge up to the crease made in Step 4.

Step 6

Fold the top corner down again along the existing crease (just the top layer).

Step 7

Fold the bottom right corner up to meet the top corner. Align the bottom edge with the centerline.

Step 8

Fold the top flap down along the line where the white and colored sides meet.

Step 9

Repeat Steps 7 and 8 on the left side.

Step 10

Unfold the top flap.

Step 11

Bring the top layer’s top corner down to the nearest horizontal line. Pinch the center to mark a reference point.

Step 12

Fold the pinch from Step 11 down to the nearest horizontal line (one layer only).

Step 13

Fold the right wing along the dashed line. The crease should go from the wing’s top and bottom corners.

🦅 Folding tip: From Steps 13 to 15, crease firmly to get sharp, neat wings.

Step 14

Fold the wing’s top flap to the right. Make the crease so it forms a 90° angle at the bottom edge, running from the top corner down.

Step 15

Fold the wing’s top left edge over to meet the right edge. You’ll be folding through two layers.

Step 16

Unfold the wing without flattening it.

Step 17

Repeat Steps 13 to 16 on the left wing.

Step 18

Fold the top corner down along the dashed line. There’s no exact reference point.

Step 19

Fold the right half of the model behind it.

Step 20

Rotate the model 90° clockwise.

Step 21

Fold and unfold the wings along the dashed lines to define the separation between the wings and the body. Repeat on the other side.

Step 22

Pull down the flap from Step 18 to form the beak.

🦅 Mission accomplished! Your origami eagle has landed.

I hope you enjoyed how quickly and cleanly this one came together.

It is a great reminder that a model doesn’t need to be complicated to be impactful.

If you would like to share your eagle, tag us on social media or drop it in the comments. And if you’re in the mood to keep learning, check out our latest YouTube tutorials or sign up for our newsletter for more.

Download the Full Origami Eagle Printable PDF
Instructions

We’d love to keep you in the loop, so by sharing your email with us, you’ll be signed up for our mailing list. Don’t worry; we won’t bombard you with spammy emails, and your information is safe with us – we won’t share it with anyone else.