News Animals By fluttering its wings, this bird uses body language to tell its mate ‘after you’ Gesturing to communicate complex messages is a rare ability in the animal kingdom Play the video Researchers have observed Japanese tits (Parus minor) fluttering their wings to noiselessly tell mates to enter the nest first. It is the first known case of symbolic gesture in a nonprimate animal. Share this:EmailFacebookTwitterPinterestPocketRedditPrint By Darren Incorvaia March 25, 2024 at 10:00 am Be it an arched eyebrow, a shaken head or a raised finger, humans wordlessly communicate complex ideas through gestures every day.