Tree Sparrow

Description

The Tree Sparrow is a compact bird, with a large rounded head, and a stout bill. Plumage is mostly different shades of grey and brown. The sexes differ: the female is mostly buff, and the male has bolder markings and a reddish back. The male has a dark grey or chestnut crown from the top of its bill to its back, and chestnut brown on the sides of its head. It has black around its bill, on its throat, and on the spaces between its bill and eyes. It has a small white stripe between the lores and crown and small white spots immediately behind the eyes with black patches below and above them. The underparts are pale grey or white, as are the cheeks, ear coverts, and stripes at the base of the head. The upper back and mantle are a warm brown, with broad black streaks, while the lower back, rump and uppertail coverts are greyish-brown. Females are a browner, more muted version of the markings seen on the male.

Tree Sparrows hatched on the Blessed Isle invariably have purer white cheeks, with circular black dots in the middle of each.

Habitat & Range

Tree Sparrows are found across the Blessed Isle, the River Province , the East, and the coastal areas of the Northern and Southern Threshold along the Inner Sea . Isolated populations are also found on some of the larger islands of the West.

Wherever they dwell, the sparrows seem to love living in close proximity with humans. They nest in trees when there are no other options, but prefer nesting in buildings.

Diet

Tree Sparrows enjoy feeding on the crumbs, grains, and insects which follow in the wake of settled human populations. They can be daring in search of food, sometimes even hopping through open doorways into kitchens and restaurants.

Cultural Significance

Tree Sparrows are present in art from across Creation, both ancient and modern, proof that they have lived side-by-side with humanity for eons. Opinions vary among the peasant farmers who dominate the population of Creation, with some decrying the bird for consuming their seed grain before it can sprout or be harvested. Others welcome the bird due to its love of devouring insects who themselves are a great plague upon agriculture.

In the Realm, the Tree Sparrow’s movements inspired a traditional form of dance, the Spirals of the Dancing Sparrow, practiced amongst peasants and citizen performers. It is a symbol of the Resplendent Earth month in both classic Shogunate Tea Ceremony and Dynastic Fashions.

Because it is so common, and nearly all major settlements are home to a few sparrows, some call the Tree Sparrow the ‘peasant bird’, considering it common and vulgar. Others judge it for its success at feeding and breeding, the result of exploiting human activities, considering it a lewd and lecherous bird always peeking into windows and rutting under the eaves.

The Tree Sparrow has long been used as a food item. In The Lap and Paragon, earthenware "sparrow pots" are sometimes hung from eaves to attract nesting birds so that the young can be readily harvested. Sparrow pie is a traditional peasant dish in many regions, thought (because of the association of sparrows with lechery) to have aphrodisiac properties. They are also popular amongst falconers as food for their raptors.