Do Doves Cry? They Make Tears, but Not From Sadness

Doves make tears, but they do not cry from sadness. Like other birds, they have glands that keep the eye moist and wash away dust, and a third eyelid that spreads the tear film. A dove with a wet eye usually has dust, wind or an infection to deal with. The sound people call crying is a normal coo.

Close-up of a pigeon's red-orange eye with a clear, moist surface

Do doves have tears?

Yes. Birds have a lacrimal (tear) gland and a larger Harderian gland behind the third eyelid. In the domestic pigeon the Harderian gland’s duct opens at the inner corner of the eye, at the base of the third eyelid, and the gland also plays a part in the eye’s immune defence (Reshag and colleagues 2016 (opens in new tab)). The third eyelid, a thin membrane that sweeps sideways across the eye, spreads this fluid and clears specks of dust.

Bird tears are not so different from ours. A study of tears from parrots, owls and hawks found a salt balance similar to human tears, with high levels of sodium and chloride (Oriá and colleagues 2020 (opens in new tab)).

Why does my dove look like it is crying?

Pigeons and doves have large, bright eyes, so a little extra moisture catches the light and can look like a tear. A brief wet look after wind, dust or a scuffle is normal and clears on its own.

Lofts and aviaries can be dusty. Pigeons and doves shed a fine feather powder, and when birds flap in an enclosed space the dust can irritate the eyes and set them watering. Good ventilation and regular cleaning help (see how to build a pigeon coop).

Pigeon in a loft with fine feather dust in the air

Can birds cry from emotion?

There is no evidence that they do. Tears produced by emotion are regarded as a human trait; in other animals, tears keep the eye clean and healthy (Murube 2009 (opens in new tab)). Doves do show stress, for example by hiding, fluffing up or calling, but they do not shed tears because they are sad. Whether pigeons feel loss in other ways is covered in do pigeons grieve.

When a watery eye means illness

Watery dove eye: normal or a vet visit?

Usually normal

Brief wetness after dust, wind or a scuffle
Both eyes clear and open
Bird alert, eating and preening
Clears within a short time

See an avian vet

One eye stays wet, swollen or crusty
Eyelids stuck together or half closed
Discharge or bubbles at the nostril
Bird fluffed up, quiet or not eating
Several birds affected

Pigeonpedia checklist based on the veterinary review cited below. Not a substitute for a vet.

A wet, swollen eye that does not clear is one of the commonest problems in kept pigeons. Keepers call it a one-eye cold; vets call it the ornithosis complex. The main cause is the bacterium Chlamydophila psittaci, often together with Mycoplasma and other bacteria, and the same eye is often affected in every sick bird, the side facing into the wind (Harlin and Wade 2009 (opens in new tab)). Treatment with the right antibiotic usually works, so a vet visit is worth it.

Chlamydophila psittaci can infect people, although the strains carried by pigeons are considered a low risk (Harlin and Wade 2009 (opens in new tab)). Wash your hands after handling a bird with sore eyes.

Please note: this article is general information and is not a substitute for advice from an avian vet or a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. If you have found an injured or sick bird, contact a vet or your local rescue (see our list of pigeon-friendly rescue centres).

Why does the mourning dove sound sad?

Mourning dove standing on bare sandy ground

The mourning dove is named for its call, a soft, drawn-out “coo-oo-oo, coo” that many people find sad. It is a normal call, heard most in the breeding season, and unmated males use a “perch-coo” to attract a female (Iowa Department of Natural Resources (opens in new tab)). Pigeons coo for similar reasons (see what sound a pigeon makes). For more on the species, see the mourning dove guide and the difference between a dove and a pigeon explainer.

Prince’s 1984 song “When Doves Cry” uses the image as a metaphor. Doves do not cry in that sense.

Do doves cry? FAQs

Do doves really cry?

Not from emotion. Doves make tears that keep their eyes clean and moist, but there is no evidence that birds shed tears because they are sad.

Do pigeons have tear ducts?

Yes. Pigeons have tear glands, including a Harderian gland whose duct opens at the inner corner of the eye.

Why is my dove’s eye watery?

Usually because of dust, wind or a minor irritation. If one eye stays wet, swollen or crusty, it may be an infection such as a one-eye cold and needs a vet.

Why do mourning doves sound sad?

Their slow “coo-oo-oo, coo” call sounds mournful to people, which is how the species got its name. It is an ordinary call used in the breeding season.

Do birds cry when they are in pain?

They may call out or go quiet, but they do not shed tears from pain or sadness. A sick or injured bird is more likely to fluff up and hide.

Sources

References used for this page:

Last updated 9 November 2026 · Behavior