No, doves do not cry.
Doves (pigeons) and dogs do use moisture to wet their eyes, and it is possible that they may over-wet their eyes so that a tear rolls down the cheek.
However, even though the physical act of tearing up is possible, the truth is that these creatures are not crying because of an emotional state.
Tears are running down their faces because their eyes are simply too watery.
Watery Eyes, Not Sad Eyes
If many animals keep their eyes moist with tears, why do doves and dogs sometimes seem to cry?
In truth, many animals can have watery eyes, and dog owners have probably seen this in their pets.
As for doves, we may simply notice it more because pigeons and doves live close to us and have large, bright eyes. There is no good evidence that their tear ducts are unusual.
Pigeons do have some real quirks, though. For example, they are one of the few birds that can suck through its beak to drink (rather than licking or gulping).
I Have Seen My Pigeons Tearing Up
If you see your pigeon looking glassy eyed, this is not because your pigeon is upset (opens in new tab).
Many varieties of pigeons have very bright and glassy eyes.
In many cases, it is a sign your pigeon is healthy and happy.
Some doves have eyes that are as glassy as a guinea pig’s eyes, which may from a distance look as if they are tearing up.
Also Read: Do Pigeons Grieve?
My Bird Seems to Cry Overly Often
Though the bird is not bawling like a baby, some birds have a solitary tear run down their face simply because of the conditions in which they live.
Some pigeons have very dusty feathers, which creates a lot of in-air debris.
This is fine in the wild, but in a coop it causes problems.
As the birds flap their wings, they kick up a lot of this dust that gets into the bird’s eyes.
Their eyelids and a third eyelid (the nictitating membrane) help clear debris, but fine dust can still irritate the eyes.
To combat the irritation of the dust, the tear ducts go into overdrive, and so very occasionally, you may see a tear running down your bird’s cheek.
Again, this is not an emotional response. It is a physical reaction to the bird’s environment. If one or both eyes stay watery, swollen or crusty, the bird may have an infection such as ‘one-eye cold’, so ask an avian vet.
What About Crying Noises?
Another sign that the tears of a dove/pigeon are not emotional is that no crying sounds go with them.
In people, crying is often accompanied by sounds.
Even quiet crying usually comes with a sniff or a catch in the breath.
The mourning dove is so-called because of its distinctive call that sounds sad to humans.
This is a general call and cannot be termed as crying.
Likewise, other dove and pigeon calls that sound mournful to us do not mean the birds feel sad.
We should also remember that the calls of many animals can sound to humans as if they express a feeling.
For example, the calls of some birds are described as laughter, even though they have nothing to do with amusement. (Some mammals, such as apes and rats, do make laugh-like sounds during play.)
So when Prince sang “When Doves Cry”, he was speaking metaphorically, and that’s a whole other story.
Last updated 23 October 2026 · Behavior