Do Owls Cry Tears?

(CNN) Birds and reptiles may not resemble humans in many ways, but they cry similar tears. The composition of human tears is well known, but until now, there was very little research into the composition and structures of tears in reptiles, birds and other mammals.

Can owls cry?

Calls. Young owls give piercing screams when begging for food, while adults may scream to defend the nest. Adults make an array of other sounds, including whistles, barks, shrieks, hisses, coos, and wavering cries.

Do owls shed tears?

The researchers found that all the bird and reptile tears had similar amounts of electrolytes to human tears, but the owl and sea turtle tears contained higher levels of urea and protein. After studying the tear composition, the team allowed the tears to dry out and studied the crystallisation patterns that formed.