The sparrow
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(Prov. 26:2; Tobit 2:10) — a commonly known small, low-value bird of the domestic kind, found throughout Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. From this the force of the expression becomes clear: “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?” (Matt. 10:29). Sparrows were offered in sacrifice by the very poorest people (Lev. 14:4), since two of them were sold for a farthing (Matt. 10:29), and five for two farthings (Luke 12:6). This little bird usually settles and builds its nest under the roofs of human dwellings and under the roofs of the temples of God; for this reason the psalmist, expressing his deep sorrow at being removed from the temple of the Lord and his ardent desire to visit the Tabernacle of the Testimony as soon as possible, pointing to this little bird, exclaims: “the bird (that is, the sparrow) hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself” (Ps. 84 [83]:3, 4).