Suzuki says that when birds perch on a branch, their wings similarly become free, which could have led to the development of gestures like the “after you” wing flutter.

The tiny birds, which weigh between 3.5 and 10.5 ounces (100 and 300 grams), reach sexual maturity by around 6 weeks and females are prolific egg layers, producing between 250 and 300 per year.

These Small Birds Flutter Their Wings to Say ‘After You’ to Their Partner A new study of Japanese tits provides the first evidence of non-primate animals using gestures to convey messages ...

How centuries of Japanese folklore inspired ‘The Boy and the Heron‘ Studio Ghibli’s latest film featuring a mysterious talking heron joins a long line of tales about the enigmatic birds ...