In the last few weeks, I’ve been learning about these pretty birds called doves
I had to go learn about them when I decided to read the book of Song of Solomon and noticed how often the author likened his lover to doves and how it was referenced most to His lovers eyes. A perfect example is; “How beautiful are you my darling! Oh, how beautiful? Your eyes are like doves – Song of Solomon 1:15.” That’s like one instance in quite a number. So yes, I went to see why people of the bible, inspired by God, like lovers with dove eyes.
I made a shocking discovery and when I think about it, I’m still brought to tears. So like humans and most animals and birds, doves do have what we call ‘peripheral vision’. With us humans, we can be looking at something in front of us but still be able to see the things at our right and left, so we kinda have a 45 degree view to our left and our right, no matter where we stand and what we look at. Some animals have it as well, which explains why during hunting, hunters best bet is usually to attack or shoot from behind or aim completely out of sight cause once you’re within their peripheral vision, they’ll run.
It’s how you think it’s some magic that you can feel eyes on you sometimes, but it’s no magic really, you’ve got peripheral vision and your brain is picking it up that eyes to your left or right are on you so you look up, trying to locate where the stare is coming from.
But you see, doves have a limited version of this peripheral vision, they don’t have eye balls that move and are sensitive to motion like humans, so when they focus on something, it’s the only thing they can see at that time.
God loves a lover with dove eyes because such a lover has eyes for just Him, not roaming eyes or eyeballs, but a singular vision. They’re only able to see Him and Him alone, no matter the things competing for their attention, their focus is completely on the only thing their eyes can see in the time.
This is why the author of Songs of Solomon kept referencing his lover with eyes as dove.
For life, you do need eyes like dove, that you put your eye on one person, one thing, one goal and go all the way with it. It’s my new prayer to always have eyes as doves, I want my lover to look at me and see that I’ve got dove-like eyes, for Him and Him alone.
Who knew doves were so interesting?
fochwoman 
This is such an interesting read
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I want dove eyes, so I can keep my gaze on the one who loves me 💞
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Whoosshhhh, May God grant our desire. All we want is to set our gaze on Him forever and never turn to the left or right xx
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This is so beautiful. I never knew this about doves. I’ll never look at a verse referencing doves the same. Thank you!
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Hi Meghan, I knowwww, this was me during the study too! I’m always blown away at how God used/uses His creation to point us back to Him, it is always the most beautiful thing each time I find out something profound like this. But the biggest realisation is how we humans, the created too should reveal our creator!! Thanks for reading and engaging x
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After doing some research online, dove and pigeon are basically the same and they both have bery wide peripheral vision since their eyes are on the side. As much as I appreciate single vision on the Lord Jesus, dove’s eyes do not function that way.
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Hi Sean!
Thank you so much for your loving correction, but even more, for your berean nature. Going back to check on all written to make sure it is true, rather than swallow it hook, line and sinker! It keeps me and generally writers accountable.
I was trying to remember the book that first inspired the thought that led me to songs of Solomon and then to writing this post, I honestly didn’t fact check it because it was from a reliable source, which I guess reveals a bias on my side. We should always fact check, I however will be rewriting this post, or including a carveat section lower down to amplify this correction.
So once again, thanks for the accountability, and also for not missing the point still within the post x
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Hi again Sean! Haha
I did do some more research of my own, first thing is doves do have limited peripheral vision, and this is due to the fact that they don’t have moving eyeballs like humans. Our peripheral vision as humans is enhanced because of that flexibility with our eye balls, but not so with doves and most birds. Static eyeballs impacts the extent of their visions periphery.
I have edited this post to reflect this more accurately.
Thank you again!
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