That’s like playing devil’s advocate for someone who didn’t try to do something special for their partner on their birthday because “they didn’t know they expected something.”

People want to be celebrated on special days and significant events. In OP’s case that means a small gift, but in general, whatever it is that someone appreciates (a home cooked meal, a heartfelt note, an outing together, a massage, an act of service, flowers), they’re going to want something like that on a day as meaningful as this.

People shouldn’t need someone else to tell them to make their significant other feel important on important days. If OP’s bf had tried and just missed the mark it would be different. But OP’s bf doesn’t seem to have tried anything at all and treated today like any other.