9 Free Animal Color by Number Printables

Animals color by number worksheets have always been a favorite in our home.

There’s something so satisfying about watching a picture come to life just by matching numbers to colors.

It’s a simple activity, but it builds number recognition, strengthens fine motor skills, and keeps kids engaged—especially on days when they need a little extra focus.

If you’re looking for a fun, no-prep way to combine learning and creativity, free color by number worksheets are a great choice.

Whether your child loves farm animals, pets, or wildlife, these printables make practicing numbers and colors exciting while sneaking in a bit of learning along the way.

A set of animal color by number printables featuring cartoon-style animals such as a bear, pig, bird, and cat. Each worksheet is divided into numbered sections that correspond to a color key, with several completed in crayon and others left uncolored. The bottom portion highlights a finished bird coloring page surrounded by green and purple bead necklaces and a 24-pack of Crayola crayons.

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Table of Contents

Color by number animals

If your kids love animals and coloring, these free color by number animal worksheets are the perfect mix of learning and creativity.

Matching numbers to colors transforms simple outlines into vibrant images of farm animals, pets, and wildlife, making it an engaging way to reinforce number recognition and fine motor skills.

Not only is this a fun activity, but it also encourages focus, patience, and attention to detail—all essential skills for early learning.

Whether used at home or in the classroom, these worksheets provide a low-prep, screen-free way to keep kids entertained while sneaking in some educational value.

These alphabet animals coloring pages offer another engaging way for kids to explore their favorite animals while building essential skills through coloring.

How to use

These color by number animals are free to print and can be used for personal or classroom activities. Simply scroll to the bottom of the post to download the PDF file.

Each sheet includes a color code at the top, making it easy for kids to follow along. To complete the pages, you’ll need 14 different colors:

light green
dark green
light blue
dark blue
light brown
dark brown
red
yellow
orange
pink
purple
grey
black
cream

Following these color guides helps kids strengthen color recognition, improve their ability to follow directions, and develop patience—all while having fun.

Each animal in this color by number set introduces a mix of colors, encouraging kids to develop their fine motor skills while bringing their favorite animals to life.

Need to print later? Add this to your Pinterest board or share it on Facebook. You’ll have it handy whenever you’re ready to use it!

Rabbit

To color the rabbit, gather light green, dark green, purple, pink, light brown, and dark brown. This soft and natural color palette makes the rabbit look realistic while reinforcing color recognition.

Pairing this with our r is for rabbit handprint art can extend the activity by introducing letter recognition alongside creative play.

An animal color by number worksheet featuring a smiling bunny illustration, with numbered sections and a color key that includes light green, dark green, purple, pink, light brown, and dark brown. The uncolored worksheet is placed beside a 24-pack of Crayola crayons and decorated with green and pink beaded necklaces on a white background.

Cow

The cow requires dark green, light green, light blue, dark blue, black, pink, red, and yellow.

This variety makes for a bright and engaging coloring experience, perfect for discussing farm life and the different patterns animals have in nature.

An animal color by number worksheet featuring a cartoon-style cow with a flower on its head. The uncolored image includes numbered sections with a crayon color key above listing dark green, light green, light blue, dark blue, black, pink, red, and yellow. The worksheet is placed beside a 24-pack of Crayola crayons and is surrounded by green and purple bead necklaces.

Cat

Our playful cat comes to life with yellow, orange, purple, pink, and brown.

Whether kids are coloring a pet or imagining a wild feline, this printable is a great way to introduce color blending.

It also pairs well with our black cat handprint art, making for a fun seasonal craft.

A completed animal color by number worksheet featuring a smiling cat colored with crayons in yellow, orange, purple, pink, and brown according to the number key at the top. The worksheet is surrounded by green and purple bead necklaces, and a box of 24 Crayola crayons is placed in the upper right corner.

Animal board books are a great addition to these worksheets, helping kids connect their coloring with stories about their favorite creatures.

Dog

Color our friendly dog using red, light blue, dark blue, light brown, cream, and dark brown.

This worksheet is a great conversation starter about pet care and different dog breeds while reinforcing color-matching skills.

An uncolored animal color by number worksheet featuring a cartoon-style dog with numbered sections and a color key at the top. The listed crayon colors include red, light blue, dark blue, light brown, cream, and dark brown. A 24-pack of Crayola crayons sits to the right, and green and purple bead necklaces decorate the background.

Horse

The majestic horse will shine with orange, red, light blue, dark blue, light brown, and dark brown.

As kids color, you can talk about farm animals, horseback riding, or even different horse breeds to add an educational twist.

A black-and-white animal color by number worksheet featuring a cartoon horse with a playful expression. The numbered color key at the top includes orange, red, light blue, dark blue, light brown, and dark brown. The worksheet is placed beside a 24-pack of Crayola crayons and surrounded by green and purple bead necklaces.

Pig

For the pig, prepare blue, purple, orange, yellow, and pink.

This bright and playful color set makes for an engaging experience while introducing discussions about farm animals, their habitats, and their importance in agriculture.

Pigs are one of the most clever species in the world. You can learn about others with our free intelligent animals coloring pages.

A completed animal color by number worksheet featuring a cartoon pig colored with blue, purple, orange, yellow, and pink crayons according to the number guide. The worksheet is surrounded by green and purple beaded necklaces, and a 24-count box of Crayola crayons is placed to the right.

Mouse

The mouse requires orange, yellow, red, purple, grey, and pink. This is a fun way to explore different animal habitats, from pet mice to wild rodents, and discuss how they adapt to their environments.

Bird

This bird color by number printable is perfect for introducing children to the diverse world of birds and their colorful appearances. All you need are six different crayons, pink, purple, light green, dark green, blue, and orange.

Bear

Finally, the bear needs green, blue, orange, red, brown, and light brown. This coloring page is a great way to introduce kids to wildlife, habitats, and even the importance of conservation.

Have fun learning different types of bears with our free worksheet.

A completed bear color by number worksheet showing a cartoon bear face colored with crayons in brown, red, orange, green, blue, red, and light brown, matching the number key at the top. The worksheet is surrounded by green and pink beads, with a 24-pack of Crayola crayons in the upper right corner.

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What are the benefits of color by number worksheets?

Color by number activities aren’t just fun—they also help kids develop important skills in a hands-on way.

These pages provide an engaging way to strengthen early learning through play.

Hand-Eye Coordination – Matching numbers to colors requires careful attention, helping kids develop coordination between what they see and how they move their hands. Staying within the lines takes practice, but it builds essential motor skills.
Fine Motor Development – Holding and controlling crayons or markers strengthens the small muscles in kids’ hands, preparing them for writing and other detailed tasks.
Color Recognition – Identifying different shades and following a color guide helps children reinforce their understanding of colors while learning to distinguish between similar hues.
Focus and Patience – Completing a color by number picture requires kids to stay engaged, follow steps, and carefully fill in sections. It’s a great way to help them practice patience and attention to detail.
A Love for Animals – Bringing animals to life through coloring can spark curiosity about different species, habitats, and even conservation efforts.
Early Math Skills – Recognizing numbers and matching them correctly to colors reinforces number identification, sequencing, and early counting skills.

These worksheets offer a simple yet effective way to blend creativity with learning, making them perfect for at-home use, classroom activities, or quiet time fun!

Have fun with our free zoo color by number printables too!

Get the free animal color by number PDF here!

Ready to grab your free printable? Just pop your name and email into the form below, and it’s all yours!

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Additional free color worksheets

If your child enjoys animal color by number pages, they’ll love exploring even more ways to practice color recognition and creativity. These additional printables provide engaging ways to reinforce learning through hands-on activities.

Colors worksheets introduce different shades, helping kids identify and differentiate between colors while strengthening their ability to follow instructions in a fun way.
Practicing with the my favorite color is worksheet encourages children to express their preferences while learning how to recognize and name different colors.
Matching and identifying shades with the I know my colors printable helps reinforce color recognition skills, making it easier for kids to apply what they’ve learned in everyday activities.

These free resources make learning about colors interactive and enjoyable, giving kids plenty of opportunities to develop essential skills through creative play.

Last Updated on 1 May 2025 by Clare Brown