How to Make Origami Dove/Pigeon Birds (Instructions + Video)

You can fold a classic origami dove from one square of paper in about fifteen to twenty minutes, no glue or scissors required once your paper is square. The same shape doubles as an origami pigeon, since the two birds share almost the same silhouette once the wings and tail are in place.

This is one of those crafts I keep coming back to. It only takes a handful of folds, but the reveal, when the wings spread and the beak tucks into place, still feels a little bit like magic every time. If you have folded a few origami bases before, you will move through this quickly. If this is closer to your first project, just take the base creases slowly and the rest follows more easily.

This dove joins the rest of our origami animal folds, and if you want to branch out further, our full origami tutorials collection has dozens more to try next.

Because doves are such a recognizable symbol of peace and love, this is a nice one to fold for Mother’s or Father’s Day, a friendship or peace-themed school project, or just a handful of paper birds to display around the house.

Origami Dove at a Glance

• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Time: 15 to 20 minutes
• Cost: Under $1
• Ages: 9 and up (younger folders may need help with the tighter creases)
• Best for: Peace-themed gifts, Mother’s and Father’s Day cards, and classroom projects about kindness and friendship

What You Need to Make an Origami Dove

Materials

• One square sheet of paper. Origami paper folds crisp and holds a sharp crease with the least effort, but a square cut from ordinary printer or craft paper works just as well. One A4 sheet gives you enough for about four squares.

Tools

• A ruler and pencil, useful for measuring and marking an accurate square if you are cutting one from a rectangular sheet.
• Scissors, to trim your square to size.
• A fine-tip marker or a pair of coloring pencils, for adding eyes or a little pattern once your dove is folded.

Watch How to Make an Origami Dove (Video Tutorial)

This video walks through the entire fold in real time, which can help if a photo step ever leaves you unsure which way to turn the paper next.

Step-by-Step Instructions to Make an Origami Dove

Step 1: Fold the Square in Half Diagonally

Start with one square sheet of paper. Fold it in half diagonally, corner to corner, matching the edges as precisely as you can. This first crease sets the centerline for the whole bird, so take an extra second to line it up and press it flat with your fingernail.

Step 2: Fold the Triangle in Half, Then Fold the Front Flap Out

Fold the triangle in half again, bringing the long folded edge over onto itself so you are left with a smaller triangle. You now have two loose triangular layers stacked on top of each other. Call the one facing you the front flap. Lift just the front flap and fold it outward in half, away from the body of the triangle.

Step 3: Flip the Pattern and Fold the Back Flap the Same Way

Turn the whole pattern over so the second layer, the back flap, is now facing you. Fold it outward in half too, exactly the way you folded the front flap in the last step. Both flaps should now sit open at matching angles.

Step 4: Fold the Pattern in Half, Then Unfold It

Fold the pattern in half by bringing the top corner down to meet the bottom edge, then open it back up. You are not keeping this fold, just setting a crease, so unfold it right away. A faint line running down the middle is exactly what you want to see.

Step 5: Open the Flap and Flatten It Along Its Crease

Unfold the flap on the side you are currently working on and look closely. You will see crease lines meeting at a ninety degree angle. Fold the paper along the horizontal crease and press the layers flat against the main pattern.

Step 6: Fold and Flatten the Diagonal Crease

Fold along the diagonal crease sitting between those two ninety degree lines, then flatten the vertical crease down against the main pattern so everything lies smooth. Run your finger along each new edge to keep the layers from shifting.

Step 7: Repeat the Creases on the Third Side, Then Fold One Flap Down

Turn the pattern to its remaining side and repeat the same folding sequence from steps four through six, so this side matches the other two. You will end up with three flaps in total, which is what starts to give the pattern its bird-like shape. Fold either one of the two top flaps down along its diagonal crease. Both are symmetrical at this point, so it does not matter which one you choose.

Step 8: Fold the Matching Flap to Form the Wings

Turn the pattern over and fold the remaining top flap out to match the one you just folded, using the same diagonal crease on that side. These two folded flaps are what will become the dove’s wings. Rotate the whole pattern 180 degrees, or simply spin it around, so the wings are pointing toward the top.

Step 9: Fold the Larger Triangle of the Wing Toward the Outer Edge

Look closely at one wing and you will see it is actually made up of two triangular sections, one larger than the other. This will become the dove’s tail feather. Fold the larger triangle along the crease marked in orange in the photo from step eight, then fold the longer edge of that same triangle over so it lines up with the wing’s outer edge.

Tip: If the two triangle layers will not separate cleanly, gently pry the fold you started in step eight open a little wider first. Forcing this fold before that layer is open tends to crease the wrong part of the paper.

Step 10: Unfold, Then Re-fold the Tail Along Its Side Creases

Unfold the last two folds you just made. Both leave a crease behind, which is what you will use next. Keep the top crease sitting on top, and fold the tail section along the two side creases that flank that top middle crease.

Step 11: Check the Tail Shape, Then Flatten It

By now the tail should be narrowing into a slim triangular point off to one side of the main body. If yours looks close to that, press the whole tail section flat against the main pattern to lock the crease in before moving on.

Step 12: Fold In the Beak End, Then Unfold It

Fold the opposite end of the pattern in from the outside edge, roughly a third of the way across. This is the section that becomes the dove’s beak. Unfold it again right away, the same way you did back in step four, so you are left with just a crease to work with.

Step 13: Shape the Beak and Finish the Face

Open up the bottom side of the pattern and fold the top-middle crease inward to shape the beak, then press the whole front flat against the main body. Your origami dove is done at this point. Add a small dot or two with a fine-tip marker for the eyes if you would like a finished face.

Tips for Folding an Origami Dove

• Use paper with a different color on each side for a two-tone effect across the wings and tail.
• String several finished doves onto a length of thread for a simple peace garland for a party, wedding, or classroom display.
• A bigger square, 20cm or larger, scales up cleanly if you want a larger display piece. The folding sequence stays exactly the same.
• If your paper is patterned or colored on only one side, start with that side facing down in step one so the color ends up on the outside of the finished dove.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an origami dove the same as an origami pigeon?

Yes, this same fold works as both. Doves and pigeons are actually the same family of bird, and the paper shape does not distinguish between them, so whichever name you use, you are folding the same bird. Most people call the white or light-colored version a dove because of its peace symbolism, and the same folded shape in any other color reads as a pigeon.

What kind of paper works best for an origami dove?

A standard square of origami paper folds the cleanest, since it is thin enough to crease sharply through all the layers in the later steps. A square cut from regular printer or craft paper works too, just expect the final creases to need a bit more pressing to stay flat. Avoid anything thicker than standard copy paper; it gets too bulky once several layers stack up.

Why won’t my origami dove lie flat?

This almost always comes down to one of the earlier creases not being pressed sharp enough, especially the base folds in steps one through six. Go back and firmly press each crease with your fingernail, working from the first fold forward, before continuing to the later steps. A soft crease anywhere near the start throws off every fold that comes after it.

How long does it take to fold an origami dove?

Once you know the sequence, folding one dove takes about fifteen to twenty minutes. Your first attempt will likely run a little longer while you get used to the base creases, and it gets noticeably faster by your second or third bird.

Can kids make this origami dove?

Kids around age nine and up can usually follow this on their own, since none of the folds need scissors or glue. Younger folders can still take part with an adult helping through the trickier base creases in the middle of the tutorial, particularly steps five through nine.

More Origami Tutorials

• How to Make an Origami Spider
• How to Fold an Origami Koi Fish
• 2 Ways to Make an Origami Bunny

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