An Economist article revealed in February 2024 describes the upward push of cuteness (“Small, however mighty: how cuteness has taken over the sector“).
It particularly mentions Japan: “Lovable issues are in every single place, no longer simply on-line. In Japan—the place appreciation for all issues kawaii is particularly prepared—roadblocks come within the type of dolphins, geese or frogs.”
No wonder then that the Lengthy-tailed Tit could be very fashionable on Hokkaido. It is helping that the subspecies here’s the caudatus one with its fully white head, which one way or the other makes the chook glance much more like a caricature persona.
They even promote plush Lengthy-tailed Tit toys on the Hokkaido airports.
A UK web page additionally gushes concerning the chook’s cuteness: “This tiny little chook has a powerful declare to be regarded as the United Kingdom’s cutest chook!”
The established purveyors of cuteness at eBird don’t disappoint both: “Lovable, energetic little chook with a minute stubby invoice. Unique: tiny and fluffy with horny pinkish, black, and white plumage and really lengthy tail.”
And as a last access within the cuteness phase, listed here are some pictures of the nest – the analysis crew that has arrange this web page calls the birds “lotti’s” for brief, which in itself is more or less lovely.
As a polymer chemist via schooling, I used to be delighted to look that plastics are helpful to the Lengthy-tailed Tit as neatly – a paper describes a nest in northwest England that used to be in large part created from plastic particles, specifically artificial fibers, from a close-by discarded cushion.
To my unhappiness, the nest used to be later deserted.
The species is a cooperative breeder – men whose breeding efforts fail assist different men carry up their chicks.
Curiously, they like to assist men whose calls are extra very similar to their very own, possibly a sign of being extra intently similar.
“Bye for now!”
