Sparrows are often derided as a nuisance and an invasive species, but in many ways their story parallels that of migrant humans feeling forced to leave their homeland and receiving at best, an uncomfortable reception in their adopted home.

Like those migrants, they are often misunderstood. There's a sparrow that's called a lark, and a sparrow that's called a finch. There are buntings, and juncos and tanagers that are closely related to sparrows.

In Victorian times, there were ill-advised and ill-fated introductions of non-native birds to North America for reasons which were ignorant at best and downright foolish at worst, but now the world is what it is, and we all have to deal with that.

This is a light-hearted look at an immigrant experience.