Japanese Tits Use Wing Gestures to Communicate 'After You'

Researchers uncover first known case of birds using symbolic gestures to convey complex messages.

Japanese tits (Parus minor) have been observed using wing-fluttering gestures to communicate the message 'after you' to their mates, a behavior not previously documented in birds.
This symbolic gesture, indicating for one bird to enter the nest first, challenges the notion that complex gestural communication is exclusive to humans and great apes.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo discovered the behavior during the spring breeding season, analyzing over 320 nest visitations.
The gesture is performed more often by female birds, and it fulfills the criteria of a symbolic gesture, occurring only in the presence of a mate and encouraging them to enter the nest without physical contact.
The discovery opens new avenues for research into animal communication and may contribute to understanding the evolution of language and gestures in humans.