Micro-Season: “The Sparrow Builds Her Nest” (2023)

We have entered the micro-season of “The Sparrow Builds Her Nest ” This is the first micro-season of the mini-season of Spring Equinox. All the micro-seasons within Spring Equinox are:

• The Sparrow Builds Her Nest (Mar 20 -Mar 24)
• The First Cherry Blossoms (Mar 25 – Mar 29)
• Thunder Raises its Voice (Mar 30 – Apr 03)

These seasons were established in 1685 by Japanese astronomer Shibukawa Shunkai and are specific to Japan. However, just because the calendar focuses on Japan doesn’t mean it isn’t applicable to others.  No matter where you live you can use these seasons as a starting point for exploring the world around you. 

To celebrate this season, we will learn about sparrows and read seasonal haiku by Basho, Issa, Buson, and Shiki. 

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The Sparrow

The term “sparrow” refers to small, mainly seed-eating birds, that have conical bills.  All sparrows are a part of the taxonomic order Passeriformes.  Birds in the order Passeriformes are sometimes called “perching birds”.  

Sparrows are separated into two major families: Old World Sparrows and New World Sparrows.

Old World Sparrows

Old World Sparrows, also known as true sparrows, are often described as small, brown-gray birds with short tails and stubby beaks. They are part of the Passeridae bird family and indigenous to Europe, Africa, and Asia. However, Old World Sparrows are now common in many other parts of the world including the Americas and Australia.  

There are 35 species of Old World Sparrows including the House Sparrow, the Rofous Sparrow, the Rock Sparrow, and the Parrot-billed Sparrow. McGill University has compiled a complete list of Old World Sparrows on its wiki page.^(2,3,4)

New World Sparrows

New World Sparrows are part of the Passerellidae family, within the super-family of Emberizidae, within the order of Passeriformes.  These birds are often described as being small, brown or gray in color, with conical bills and distinctive head patterns.  

Although birds in the New World Sparrow family share the name “sparrow”, they are actually more closely related to Old World Buntings than they are to Old World Sparrows.  New World Sparrows can be similar in appearance and behavior to finches and some are even identified as finches.^(3,5)

There are 138 different species in the New World Sparrow family including the Field Sparrow, Brewer’s Sparrow, and the American Tree Sparrow.  There is a good list of New World Sparrows on Wikipedia.  This list includes pictures of the birds and links to supporting Wikipedia pages. 

A Sparrow’s Nest

The construction and location of a sparrow’s nest depends on the habitat where that bird lives.  House sparrows, who tend to live around people and their buildings, construct their nests in holes in buildings or other structures.  Their nests are made of coarse, dried vegetation and then lined with softer materials,

The Eurasian Tree Sparrow, common in Japan, has similar nesting habits to that of the House Sparrow.  Eurasian Tree Sparrows also make their nest in holes in trees, buildings, rocks, or nest boxes.  Their nest are also usually dome-shaped, made of grass and straw, and then lined with feathers, hair, cloth, and plant matter. 

However, the Cassin’s Sparrow lives in dry grasslands with small shrubs, small trees, and cacti.  A Cassin’s Sparrow’s nest is usually set on the ground, or close to the ground, and is made from loose clumps of grass and weeds lined with hair and other finer grasses and roots.  

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Seasonal Haiku

The World Kigo Database tells us that sparrows are non-seasonal and not kigo.  This is because sparrows are common in Japan throughout the year.  

To place a sparrow haiku in springtime, another descriptor needs to be applied.  For example, “baby sparrows”, “little sparrows”, “birds nest”, and “sparrow parents” are all spring kigo.  However, “sparrow in the rice field” would be an autumn haiku, and “first sparrow” would be a New Year’s haiku.  

With all this in mind, let’s read some haiku.

Issa

the baby sparrow
chirps inside
the rice gourd
(translated by David G. Lanoue)

new grass--
a sparrow and I
just playing
(translated by David G. Lanoue)

Buddha's birthday--
fat little sparrows
and their parents
(translated by David G. Lanoue)

Shiki

the sparrow hops
along the veranda,
with wet feet
(translated by R.H. Blyth)

Buson

sudden shower -
clinging to blades of grass,
the village-sparrows
(translated by Haldane)

Basho

playing in the blossoms
a horsefly . . . don’t eat it,
friendly sparrows! 
(translated by Makoto Ueda)

rice paddy sparrows
shelter in the tea plants
when chased away 
(translated by Jane Reichhold)

Sparrows in eaves, 
mice in celling – 
celestial music. 
(translated by Lucien Stryk) 

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Haiku Invitation

This week’s haiku invitation is to write a haiku or senryu that references the activity of birds in the spring.  Some examples of this activity could be building nests, migrating north, spring bird songs, or even birds in spring snow.   

Share your haiku in the comments below, or post on your own page and link back to this post. I can’t wait to read what you write!  

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Resources:

1. “Sparrow”; Britannica
2. “Old World Sparrow”: Wikipedia
3. “Sparrow”; New World Encyclopedia
4. “Sparrow”; McGill University
5. “New World Sparrow”: Wikipedia
6. “List of New World Sparrow Species”: Wikipedia
7. “House Sparrow-Life History”; AllAboutBirds
8. “Cassin’s Sparrow-Life History”; AllAboutBirds
9. “Eurasian Tree Sparrow”: All About Birds
10. “Sparrow (suzume)”; World Kigo Database

 Basho’s haiku were retrieved from Matsuo Bashō’s haiku poems in romanized Japanese with English translations.  Issa’s haiku were retrieved from the World Kigo Database and David G. Lanoue’s HaikuGuy.com. Buson’s haiku was retrieved from World Kigo Database.  Shiki’s haiku was retrieved from NeverEndingStory Blog.