What age is this origami Eagle for?

About Age 10+. It is rated “Challenge” (level 4 of 5), with 31 steps, and takes about 40 minutes.

What paper do I need?

2 sheets: brown paper for the body (brown on both sides looks best) and a small yellow sheet, about 30% of the body sheet, for the legs No scissors or glue are needed.

What is it called in Japanese?

In Japanese it is “わし（チャレンジ）”. The word origami (折り紙) itself means “folding paper”: ori = fold, kami = paper.

Can I print the instructions?

Yes. “Print the diagram” puts every step on one page (or a PDF), and the practice sheet has the crease lines printed on the paper. Free for home and classroom use.

★★★★Challenge Birds & BugsOriginal

How to make an origami Eagleわし（チャレンジ）Eagle (Challenge)

A challenge model of an eagle with its wings spread wide. The wings come out of a bird base with inside reverse folds, and their tips become flight feathers. A small sheet makes the legs with talons.

31 steps
about 40 min
2 sheets: brown paper for the body (brown on both sides looks best) and a small yellow sheet, about 30% of the body sheet, for the legs
Age 10+

How to fold

体（茶色の紙）：三角に折る
Body (brown paper): fold in half to make a triangle.
さらに半分の三角に折る
Fold in half again.
袋を開いて、四角につぶす
Open the pocket and squash it into a square.
うらがえす
Turn it over.
こちらも袋を開いて、四角につぶす（正方基本形）
Squash this side into a square, too. This is the preliminary base.
下のふちを、まん中の線に合わせて折りすじをつける
Fold the lower edges to the center line and unfold.
上の三角を折って、折りすじをつける
Fold the top down and unfold.
1まいめを下から持ち上げて、ふちを折りすじで内側へ（花弁折り）
Lift the bottom corner of the top layer and fold the sides in along the creases (petal fold).
上の折りすじが「ちょうつがい」。左右のふちがまん中でぴたりと合うように、ゆっくり持ち上げます。
うらがえす
Turn it over.
こちらも、下のふちをまん中に合わせて折りすじをつけ、花弁折りする（鶴の基本形）
Crease the lower edges to the center, then petal fold this side, too. This is the bird base.
下の2つのふちを、少し内側へ折る
Fold the two lower edges in a little.
ふちをまん中の線まで折らずに、3分の1くらい。つばさがはばの広い形になります。
うらがえす
Turn it over.
こちらも同じように折る
Do the same on this side.
下の左の先を、中わり折りで横へ広げる（つばさ）
Inside reverse fold the lower left point out to the side to make a wing.
つばさは水平より少し上向きに。
下の右の先も、同じように横へ広げる
Inside reverse fold the lower right point out in the same way.
左のつばさの先を、かぶせ折りで上へ（風切り羽）
Outside reverse fold the tip of the left wing up. These are the flight feathers.
右のつばさの先も、かぶせ折りで上へ
Outside reverse fold the tip of the right wing up, too.
手前の上の先の左のふちを、まん中の線に合わせて折る
Fold the left edge of the front top point to the center line.
右のふちも、まん中の線に合わせて折る（頭と首）
Fold the right edge to the center line, too. This makes the head and neck.
上の先を、下へ折る（頭）
Fold the top tip down to make the head.
先が下につき出して、くちばしになります。
先を少し上へ折りかえす（くちばし）
Fold the tip back up a little to make the beak.
うしろの上の先を、うしろへ折り下げる（しっぽ）
Fold the back top point down behind. This is the tail.
足（小さい黄色の紙）：ななめに折りすじをつけ、左右のふちを合わせて折りすじをつける
Legs (small yellow paper): crease a diagonal, then crease the edges to it from both ends.
魚の基本形にたたむ
Collapse it into the fish base.
上の先を、下の先に重ねて半分に折る
Fold the top point down onto the bottom point.
手前の先を、左ななめ下へ折る
Fold the front point down to the lower left.
うしろの先を、右ななめ下へうしろへ折る
Fold the back point down behind to the lower right.
左の足の先を、かぶせ折りで外へ（つめ）
Outside reverse fold the tip of the left leg outward to make the talons.
右の足の先も、外へ（つめ）
Do the same with the right leg.
足を、体のうしろ（おなかの下）に差しこむ
Slide the legs behind the body, under the belly.
足のつけねを、しっぽの根もとの内側に差しこみます。
つばさを少し前へ起こして、形をととのえる
Bend the wings forward a little and shape your eagle.
できあがり！つばさを少し前へ起こし、黄色いくちばしと目をかいたら、わしのできあがり！
Finished! Bend the wings forward a little, draw the yellow beak and the eyes, and your eagle is finished!

Fun fact

ワシとタカは同じなかまの鳥です。はっきりした決まりはありませんが、体の大きいものを「ワシ」、小さいものを「タカ」とよぶことが多いです。

Eagles and hawks belong to the same bird family. There is no strict rule, but in Japanese the big ones are usually called washi (eagles) and the smaller ones taka (hawks).

Origami English in this model

❓ FAQ

What age is this origami Eagle for?: About Age 10+. It is rated “Challenge” (level 4 of 5), with 31 steps, and takes about 40 minutes.
What paper do I need?: 2 sheets: brown paper for the body (brown on both sides looks best) and a small yellow sheet, about 30% of the body sheet, for the legs No scissors or glue are needed.
What is it called in Japanese?: In Japanese it is “わし（チャレンジ）”. The word origami (折り紙) itself means “folding paper”: ori = fold, kami = paper.
Can I print the instructions?: Yes. “Print the diagram” puts every step on one page (or a PDF), and the practice sheet has the crease lines printed on the paper. Free for home and classroom use.