A small-bird species, the Japanese tit (Parus minor), uses wing movements as a gesture to convey the message 'after you,' according to new research. When a mating pair arrives at their nest box with food, they will wait outside on perches. One will then often flutter its wings toward the other, apparently indicating for the latter to enter first.
A small-bird species, the Japanese tit , uses wing movements as a gesture to convey the message 'after you,' according to new research. When a mating pair arrives at their nest box with food, they will wait outside on perches. One will then often flutter its wings toward the other, apparently indicating for the latter to enter first.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo were therefore surprised to find clear evidence of symbolic gesture use by a small wild bird, the Japanese tit."In our latest discovery, we revealed that the Japanese tit uses gestures to communicate with their mate," said Associate Professor Toshitaka Suzuki from the University of Tokyo."For over 17 years, I have been engaged in the study of these fascinating birds.
"We were surprised to find that the results were much clearer than we had expected. We observed that Japanese tits flutter their wings exclusively in the presence of their mate, and upon witnessing this behavior, the mate almost always entered the nest box first," explained Suzuki. The gesture was performed more often by the female birds, after which the male usually entered the nest box, regardless of which had arrived first.
"There is a hypothesis that walking on two legs allowed humans to maintain an upright posture, freeing up their hands for greater mobility, which in turn contributed to the evolution of gestures. Similarly, when birds perch on branches, their wings become free, which we think may facilitate the development of gestural communication," said Suzuki."We will continue to decipher what birds are talking about through gestures, vocalizations and their combinations.
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