Gravity makes the bird fall when you stop tapping. Each tap gives a small upward boost but the timing is strict and you must keep the bird in the narrow gap between pipes without hitting them.
Clicking the screen makes the bird rise and you must time your clicks to avoid pipes and gaps. Practice short taps to stay steady, find the rhythm, and keep the bird moving through the narrow openings without crashing into obstacles for a high score.
Often you just tap to flap upward while the pipes scroll left, which is kinda weird anyway, and you must aim for the gap to avoid a crash. The controls are simple taps on the screen, and their goal is to guide the bird through each gap without touching the pipes.
Quick tip from me, i found that tapping gently works better then tapping hard, and you should watch the gap timing to avoid pipes and keep the bird in the narrow space between obstacles. This keeps the bird steady and helps you score more points.
Patience is the thingy that matters most when you flap through pipes. You tap the screen to push the bird up and the main mechanic is avoiding the pipes by staying in the narrow gaps. The controls are just taps, no buttons, and the goal is to keep the bird alive as long as possible to reach a high score. You can retry instantly when you crash and practice the timing to improve. This stuff is simple but requires focus and quick taps to succeed.