struthion

Worth less than a penny?

How about a lovely White-rumped shrike (Eurocephalus ruppelli) for your Sunday? Stubby little shrikes like this one are common in the dry savannas of East Africa.

Their family name, "shrike," is likely drawn from the sound of their song; some call it a shriek!

Shrikes are members of the passerine order (which means they have feet perfect for "perching").

Naturalists who study the bible identify passerines with the Greek word struthion, often translated into English as "sparrow." It is unlikely that Jesus had a White-rumped shrike specifically in mind (due to range) when he described a bird worth less than a penny (Mt 10:29, Lk 12:6-7), but I do appreciate the possibility that not one of these falls to the ground apart from the knowledge of our Father.

The natural world is valued by God. Sharing His values is an expression of worship. Observe and preserve!