Udaipur, March 20, 2025 - The chirping sound coming from the tiny sparrow, hopping around in our homes and courtyards... a small bird that was once the pride of our homes. Nestled in the thatched roofs of mud houses, in the cracks of walls, behind pictures, in the corners of girders, under tin roofs and eaves and in water pipes on the roof... these birds would build their nests. The chirping of these sparrows would make even the desolate homes feel alive and lively. The children and elderly in the house would always take care of them, offering food and water.

For centuries, the sparrow has been a symbol of our culture, freedom, joy and tradition, but today it is facing a crisis. In the race for development, the concrete jungles of villages and cities and the towers of electricity and mobile networks, which have replaced trees, have made the sparrow almost vanish from our homes.

The Little Sparrow – A Friend of Farmers

The bird commonly known as a sparrow is a small-sized bird. Its wings are dark or brown in color, and its length ranges between 14 and 18 cm. It has a round head, a small tail and a pointed, pyramid-shaped beak. Sparrows are cavity-nesting birds, meaning they prefer to build their nests in hollows of trees, rocks, houses or buildings. Their breeding season is from April to August, although nests have been observed throughout the year in some places. A sparrow lays 4 to 5 eggs at a time. The eggs are white, light blue, white or off-white in colour. The incubation period is 11 to 14 days and the chicks start flying after 14 to 16 days.

The sparrow is considered a friend of farmers. It is an insectivorous bird and has been helping maintain the ecological balance by feeding on insects, flies, mosquitoes, spiders, and pests in fields and our courtyards for thousands of years. It also feeds its chicks with insects that harm crops. In this sense, the sparrow is an indicator of a healthy environment.

Why is the Sparrow Disappearing?

According to experts, excessive urbanisation and permanent housing have made it difficult for sparrows to find suitable places to build their nests. There is no longer any thatched roof or tin roof. Permanent houses have been built and their doors are closed to the sparrow. With nets covering windows and ventilation openings, sparrows can no longer enter homes and make nests. Additionally, the rampant cutting of trees and bushes, which were their natural habitat, has further reduced their breeding grounds, putting their existence in danger. The indiscriminate use of pesticides in crops has also reduced the availability of their primary food - pests - leading to their decline. Research also suggests that the radiation from mobile towers is decreasing their reproductive capacity, contributing to a steady decline in their population.

It is heartening to note that, due to the sensitivity of people towards animals and birds, there has been an increase in the practice of installing artificial nests made of wood and cardboard in homes. Sparrows are now successfully breeding in these nests.

The Glory of the Sparrow Worldwide

Naturally, sparrows can be found in India, Europe, Africa, Asia, Myanmar and Indonesia. The sparrow holds a special place of honour globally, and as a result, postage stamps featuring the sparrow have been issued in more than 20 countries, including India. The first postage stamp featuring a sparrow was issued by Yugoslavia in 1982. On July 9, 2010, the Indian Postal Service issued a five-rupee stamp featuring the sparrow. This stamp depicts both a male and female sparrow.

The Sparrow – One Name, Many Forms

In different dialects, languages, and regions, the sparrow is known by various names:

• Urdu: Chirya
• Sindhi: Zhirki
• Punjab: Chiri
• Jammu and Kashmir: Cher
• West Bengal: Charai Pakhi
• Odisha: Gharachhatiya
• Gujarat: Chakli
• Maharashtra: Chimni
• Telugu: Pichuka
• Kannada: Gubachi
• Tamil Nadu and Kerala: Kuruvi