Big Bird Costume
Bring Sesame Street to life in bright yellow feathers and striped legs.
Big Bird is the beloved, eight-foot-two-inch tall yellow bird who has captured hearts on Sesame Street since 1969 [1.1.3]. People choose this costume for its cheerful, nostalgic appeal and instantly recognizable silhouette. The look centers around a fluffy yellow feathered body, bright orange legs with pink rings, and a yellow bird face with blue eyelids.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~120 min
- Budget
- $45–120
Try it on
See yourself as Big Bird
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.
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Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a Big Bird costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Big Bird costume — one box instead of 7 pieces.
Yellow feather boas
Bright yellow fluffy boas stitched or glued onto a base garment to mimic Big Bird's dense plumage [1.2.3].
DIY: Glue yellow craft feathers or shredded yellow felt strips onto an oversized yellow t-shirt.
Yellow base dress or t-shirt
A simple yellow tunic, dress, or long-sleeve shirt to serve as the base for attaching the feathers.
DIY: Use an old yellow oversized t-shirt from your closet.
Orange tights or leggings
Bright orange leggings or tall socks to represent Big Bird's long legs.
DIY: Dye a pair of white leggings using bright orange fabric dye.
Pink felt or fabric paint
Used to create the horizontal pink rings and stripes around the orange legs.
DIY: Cut rings from old pink socks or felt sheets and slide them over the orange leggings.
Yellow baseball cap
A plain yellow cap to serve as the base for Big Bird's face, beak, and eyes.
DIY: Cover a cardboard headband with yellow felt or construction paper.
Large googly eyes and blue felt
Big white eyes with black pupils, accented by blue felt to replicate his signature blue eyelids.
DIY: Cut circles out of white and blue paper plates and draw pupils with a black marker.
Orange felt or craft foam
Stiff orange material to construct a large, slightly curved beak and webbed bird feet covers.
DIY: Use cardboard painted orange to shape the beak and shoe covers.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Big Bird costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Prepare the base garment by laying the yellow dress or oversized t-shirt flat on a work surface.
- 2
Wrap and sew or hot-glue the yellow feather boas horizontally around the base garment until it is fully covered and fluffy [1.2.3].
- 3
Create the striped legs by painting horizontal pink rings onto the orange tights, or by sewing rings cut from pink socks onto them.
- 4
Construct the headpiece by gluing two large white eyes with blue felt eyelids onto the front of the yellow baseball cap.
- 5
Roll orange felt into a cone shape to form the beak, then attach it to the brim of the cap directly below the eyes.
- 6
Cut out two large, three-toed webbed feet shapes from orange felt or foam, making a center hole to slip them over your shoes.
- 7
Put on the striped orange tights, slip on your shoes with the felt feet covers over them, wear the feathered tunic, and top it off with the character cap.
Makeup & hair
Keep makeup simple with a bright, cheerful face, or apply blue eyeshadow to match Big Bird's eyelids. Tuck your hair completely under the yellow baseball cap or a yellow wig to keep the focus on the bird headpiece.
Big Bird for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with Snuffleupagus, Elmo, or Oscar the Grouch for a classic Sesame Street duo.
- group
- Gather friends to dress as the Sesame Street gang, including Bert, Ernie, Cookie Monster, and Abby Cadabby.
- kids
- Use a yellow feathered toddler sleep sack or hoodie paired with orange striped leggings for an adorable, warm costume.
- Plus size
- An oversized yellow fleece hoodie decorated with yellow felt feathers offers a comfortable, highly adjustable fit.
- pet
- A yellow dog sweater adorned with a few yellow feathers and a small yellow hood with felt eyes.
More ways people search for this costume
The most-searched variations of “Big Bird costume”, and how this look adapts to each.
Diy big bird costume
- Skip the store: Glue yellow craft feathers or shredded yellow felt strips onto an oversized yellow t-shirt. Use an old yellow oversized t-shirt from your closet. Dye a pair of white leggings using bright orange fabric dye.
Tips
- Feather boas shed easily; shake them out vigorously outdoors before assembling or wearing the costume to minimize cleanup [1.2.3].
- Ensure the felt feet covers are secure and do not drag under your soles to prevent slipping or tripping while walking.
- Wear lightweight, breathable layers underneath the feathered body, as multiple layers of boas can trap body heat quickly.
- For outdoor events in cool weather, swap the base tunic for a thick yellow long-sleeve sweatshirt.
Big Bird costume FAQ
- How do you make Big Bird's striped legs?
- Wear bright orange tights or leggings, and add pink stripes by wrapping pink fabric paint, pink felt strips, or cut-up pink socks around them at regular intervals [1.2.3].
- What is the easiest way to get the feathered look?
- The fastest method is hot-gluing or safety-pinning several bright yellow feather boas to a yellow t-shirt or dress.
- How do I make Big Bird's beak?
- Roll a sheet of stiff orange craft foam or felt into a cone, trim the edges to fit the brim of a yellow cap, and secure it with hot glue.
Did you know? Big Bird is canonically a golden canary, stands at eight feet two inches tall, and has been played by puppeteer Matt Vogel since Caroll Spinney's retirement.