Peacock
Colour the tail feathers blue and green and add an eye spot to each one; the feathers are already in the right place.
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81 Disguise a Turkey Ideas (With Pictures and Supply Lists)
The best disguise a turkey ideas are the ones a child can explain in one sentence and build from what is already in the house: a peacock, Santa, a snowman, a pumpkin, an astronaut, a football player, a princess or a slice of pizza. Below are 81 ideas in seven groups. Every one has a picture, a one-line how-to, the supplies and a free coloring page, and 12 have full step-by-step pages with cut-out pieces.
How to choose a disguise in two minutes
- Start from the tail. The fan of feathers is the hardest part to hide. Ideas that use it (peacock, lion mane, rainbow, sunflower, watermelon slice, crayon box, hot air balloon) are the quickest and usually look the best.
- Cover the wattle. The red wattle under the beak gives a turkey away. A beard, scarf, collar, helmet or mask hides it.
- Check the supplies before you promise. Each idea below lists what you need. If it says cotton balls and you have none, pick the next one.
- Ask what the teacher wants kept. Many teachers want the turkey outline still visible underneath, and some want the child to do the work. A simple idea done by the child beats a perfect one done by a parent.
Need a blank turkey first? Print one of the free turkey outlines. Not sure which one? Type a costume into the costume finder and it shows the closest checked coloring page.
Other animals (16)
The oldest trick in the book: a turkey that looks like a different animal is safe from the dinner table.
Owl
Glue two big paper circles over the eyes, add a small triangle beak and cover the body in overlapping paper scallops.
Flamingo
Colour everything pink, add a long paper neck that curves like an S and a black-tipped beak.
Penguin
Cover the body with a black coat and a white oval tummy, then tuck the tail feathers behind as a snowdrift.
Cat
Add two pointed ears, whiskers and a long curled tail that covers the feathers.
Puppy
Glue on two floppy ears and a collar with a name tag, and draw spots on the body.
Unicorn
Add a rolled-paper horn and make each tail feather a different pastel colour for the mane and tail.
Lion
Turn the fan of feathers into the mane by colouring them orange and gold, then add a lion nose and whiskers.
Hedgehog
Cut the feathers into spikes, or glue on toothpick-thin paper strips, and add a small round nose.
Butterfly
Split the feathers into two wings with matching patterns on each side and add two curly antennae.
Ladybug
Colour the body red with black dots, add a black head cap and six paper legs.
Bumblebee
Wrap black and yellow stripes around the body and add two wax-paper wings on top of the feathers.
Dinosaur
Cover the body in green scales and turn the feathers into a row of back plates.
Shark
Add a grey paper fin on top, a wide mouth full of white triangle teeth, and colour the feathers as waves.
Bunny
Glue on two tall ears and a cotton-ball tail, and give it a carrot to hold.
Cow
Paint black patches on a white body, add small horns and a bell on a string.
Jobs and uniforms (12)
A uniform does most of the work. One hat and one prop are usually enough for the teacher to get it at a glance.
Firefighter
Add a red helmet with a badge, a yellow-striped coat and a paper hose; colour the feathers as flames.
Astronaut
Cover the head with a clear or white helmet circle, wrap the body in foil and add star stickers.
Doctor
Dress it in a white coat with a pocket, add a yarn stethoscope and a paper head mirror.
Chef
Add a puffy white chef hat and an apron, and put a wooden spoon in its wing. The irony is the joke.
Police officer
Add a dark blue cap and jacket with a foil star badge and a paper belt.
Farmer
Give it overalls, a straw hat and a tiny rake, so it looks like the one doing the choosing.
Construction worker
Add a yellow hard hat, an orange safety vest with silver stripes and a paper hammer.
Pilot
Add a captain's cap, a jacket with gold stripes on the sleeves and paper wings pinned to the chest.
Mail carrier
Give it a blue cap, a shoulder bag made from an envelope corner and a few tiny letters.
Teacher
Add glasses, a cardigan and an apple, and let it hold a tiny chalkboard that says 'Not a turkey'.
Scientist
Dress it in a lab coat with safety goggles and a paper flask of bubbling green liquid.
Painter
Add a beret and a smock, and turn each tail feather into a paint colour with a palette in its wing.
Holiday disguises (10)
Borrow a different holiday. Nobody eats Santa, a snowman or a jack-o'-lantern.
Santa
Add a red hat and coat, a cotton-ball beard that covers the wattle, a black belt and a sack over the feathers.
Christmas elf
Add a pointed green hat with a bell, pointed ears, a red collar with zigzag edges and curly-toed shoes.
Snowman
Cover the body in cotton balls, add a top hat, a carrot nose, a scarf and stick arms.
Reindeer
Add brown paper antlers (traced hands work), a red pom-pom nose and a collar of bells.
Christmas tree
Layer green paper triangles over the whole bird, then decorate with sticker ornaments and a star on top.
Pumpkin
Colour the body orange with curved ribs, add a green stem hat and a leaf, and tuck the feathers behind a vine.
Ghost
Drape a white tissue or coffee filter over the whole turkey and draw two eye holes.
Gingerbread cookie
Colour it brown and pipe on white icing lines, gumdrop buttons and a bow tie.
Wrapped present
Wrap the body in gift wrap, add a ribbon cross and a big bow, and let only the feet stick out.
Leprechaun
Add a green top hat with a buckle, an orange yarn beard and a pot of gold coins.
Food disguises (13)
The joke is that the turkey hides as something else on the menu. These are mostly paper-and-crayon builds.
Slice of pizza
Cover the body with a yellow triangle, a brown crust on top and red circle pepperoni.
Ice cream cone
Draw a waffle pattern on a brown triangle below, and stack pom-pom or cotton scoops on top.
Cupcake
Use a real cupcake liner for the base, swirl paper frosting above it and scatter sprinkle dots.
Pineapple
Draw a crisscross pattern on a yellow body and turn the tail feathers into the green spiky crown.
Box of popcorn
Make a red-and-white striped box for the body and glue real or cotton-ball popcorn spilling over the top.
Taco
Fold a yellow paper circle around the body as the shell and stuff it with shredded green, red and orange paper.
Sushi roll
Wrap a black band around a white rice body and top it with an orange paper slice.
Watermelon slice
Colour the fan of feathers as the slice: green rim, red middle and black seed dots.
Strawberry
Colour the body red with yellow seed dots and add a green leafy cap on the head.
Donut
Cut a ring of pink frosting to sit around the middle and cover it in sprinkle marks.
Stack of pancakes
Stack tan paper ovals up the body, drip brown syrup down the sides and add a yellow square of butter.
Gumball machine
Fill a clear circle on the body with pom-poms or dot stickers and add a red base with a coin slot.
Hot dog
Sandwich the body between two tan paper buns and squiggle yellow yarn mustard down the front.
Sports and dance (8)
A jersey, a ball and a number. Good for kids who want their own team colours on it.
Football player
Add a helmet with a face guard, shoulder pads, a numbered jersey and a paper football under one wing.
Baseball player
Add a cap, a pinstripe jersey with a number, and a craft-stick bat.
Basketball player
Add a jersey and a headband and turn the round body into a basketball with curved black lines.
Soccer player
Add a striped shirt, shorts, long socks and a black-and-white ball at its feet.
Ballerina
Gather tulle, tissue or a coffee filter into a tutu around the waist and add ribbon ballet shoes and a bun.
Cheerleader
Add a pleated skirt, a top with a big letter and two shredded-tissue pom-poms.
Hockey player
Add a helmet, a big jersey and a craft-stick hockey stick with a black button puck.
Karate kid
Wrap a white paper robe across the front and tie a coloured ribbon belt around the middle.
Storybook and dress-up characters (14)
Classic dress-up box characters that belong to nobody, so there is nothing to copy.
Princess
Add a crown, a long gown that covers the body and legs, and make the feathers the puffed sleeves or a high collar.
Knight
Wrap the body in foil armour, add a helmet with a visor and a cardboard shield with your own crest.
Pirate
Add an eye patch, a bandana or pirate hat, a striped shirt and a treasure map in one wing.
Superhero
Add a mask, a cape over the tail feathers and a chest emblem with the child's own initial.
Mermaid
Turn the lower body into a scaly tail with a fin, add a shell top and colour the feathers as sea plants.
Fairy
Add two tissue wings in front of the feathers, a flower crown and a star wand.
Wizard
Add a tall pointed hat and a robe covered in stars and moons, plus a long cotton beard.
Cowboy
Add a wide hat, a bandana, a vest with a star and a loop of string for the lasso.
Ninja
Wrap the whole body in black paper leaving only the eyes, and tie a coloured belt and headband.
Robot
Cover the body with a foil box, add bottle-cap dials, a paper-clip antenna and bendy-straw arms.
Mummy
Wrap gauze, masking tape or toilet-paper strips around the whole body, leaving a gap for the eyes.
Scarecrow
Add a patched hat and shirt, and glue straw or raffia poking out of the sleeves and neck.
Circus clown
Add a round red nose, a ruffled collar, a tiny hat and big polka dots everywhere.
Rock star
Add star sunglasses, a spiky paper hairdo and a cardboard guitar; colour the feathers in neon stripes.
Objects and nature (8)
Turn the tail into the main shape and the turkey disappears completely.
Rainbow
Colour the tail feathers in rainbow order and hide the body behind two cotton-ball clouds.
Sunflower
Colour the feathers yellow as petals, fill the body with brown seeds and add a green stem and leaves below.
Box of crayons
Turn each tail feather into a crayon with a pointed tip and make the body the open box.
Disco ball
Cover the round body with small foil squares in a grid and add a loop on top to hang it from.
Hot air balloon
Make the fan of feathers the striped balloon and hang a small paper basket below on string.
Fluffy sheep or cloud
Cover everything except the face and feet with cotton balls. Call it a sheep or a cloud, both work.
Flower in a pot
Stand the turkey in a paper pot, colour the feathers as petals and add two green leaves as arms.
Cactus
Colour the body green, add two bent arms, dot it with toothpick-line spines and plant it in a pot.
The fastest disguise a turkey ideas (20 minutes or less)
If the project is due tomorrow, these need only paper, crayons and glue, and most of them reuse the tail feathers instead of hiding them:
- Peacock: Colour the tail feathers blue and green and add an eye spot to each one; the feathers are already in the right place.
- Pumpkin: Colour the body orange with curved ribs, add a green stem hat and a leaf, and tuck the feathers behind a vine.
- Ghost: Drape a white tissue or coffee filter over the whole turkey and draw two eye holes.
- Rainbow: Colour the tail feathers in rainbow order and hide the body behind two cotton-ball clouds.
- Watermelon slice: Colour the fan of feathers as the slice: green rim, red middle and black seed dots.
- Snowman: Cover the body in cotton balls, add a top hat, a carrot nose, a scarf and stick arms.
- Lion: Turn the fan of feathers into the mane by colouring them orange and gold, then add a lion nose and whiskers.
- Sunflower: Colour the feathers yellow as petals, fill the body with brown seeds and add a green stem and leaves below.
- Strawberry: Colour the body red with yellow seed dots and add a green leafy cap on the head.
- Fluffy sheep or cloud: Cover everything except the face and feet with cotton balls. Call it a sheep or a cloud, both work.
Ideas by grade
| Grade | What works | Good picks |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-K and kindergarten | One material, big shapes, lots of gluing. Colouring the feathers is the main job. | Snowman, Fluffy sheep or cloud, Pumpkin, Ghost, Rainbow, Ladybug |
| 1st and 2nd grade | Two or three pieces to cut, a hat plus one prop, and a sentence to write. | Santa, Firefighter, Princess, Pirate, Peacock, Slice of pizza, Chef |
| 3rd to 5th grade | Mixed materials, small details and a persuasive paragraph in the turkey's voice. | Astronaut, Robot, Knight, Football player, Gumball machine, Hot air balloon, Disco ball, Mermaid |
What about cartoon, film or pop-star turkeys?
Dressing the turkey as a favourite singer, athlete, superhero or cartoon character is very popular and perfectly fine for a school project that a child makes by hand. This site does not publish pictures of named characters, because those belong to their owners. For those ideas, start from the closest generic costume here (superhero, princess, rock star, football player), then let your child add the colours and details that make it theirs.
Common questions about turkey disguise ideas
- What is the easiest way to disguise a turkey?
- Use the feathers instead of hiding them. A peacock needs only blue and green crayons, a rainbow needs seven colours and two cotton balls, and a lion turns the fan into a mane. Each takes about 20 minutes.
- What can I use to disguise a turkey if I have no craft supplies?
- Paper, crayons, a glue stick and things from the kitchen: aluminium foil (astronaut, knight, robot, disco ball), coffee filters (ballerina, ghost, chef hat), cotton balls (snowman, Santa, sheep) and cupcake liners (cupcake, princess skirt).
- Does the turkey have to stay visible?
- It depends on the teacher. Many ask that the turkey shape is still there under the costume, so build on top of the outline rather than cutting it apart, and keep the beak or feet showing.
- Are these pictures free to print?
- Yes. Every coloring page here is free for home and classroom use. They are generic costumes drawn for this site with an AI image tool and checked by hand.
Last updated 2026-11-14.