Of the communal birds, or those that live together in large communities.

Translated by Yuming Ren ’21

There is on this island a type of bird that is somewhat smaller than those which in Castile are called sparrows or house sparrows, and these are somewhat like them in plumage and diligence and are no less astute or malicious. These are very lively when in flocks or groups. Their color and plumage are a linnet gray, and they make a nest as big as or bigger than those that the storks used to make in the belfries and towers of Castile. They make these nests out of branches, composed in such a manner and interwoven so sturdily that is greatly admirable, as these birds are so small; and inside their nests they have their different and divided apartments and cells, where distinct individuals breed; and each nest has at least two or three hundred of these birds. And if some large bird dares fly near them, even if it is a bird of prey, like the red-tailed hawks I mentioned that eat the chickens here (and even the hens), these birds come out in squadrons with a great noise, attacking so daringly and dauntlessly that there are no wasps nor other similar things as angry or as persistent, until they make it flee, pecking at it viciously and plucking its feathers. Finally, the other birds keep their distance from these nests, as men stay away from wasp nests. And it is truly a sight to see when they have similar encounters with passing birds, I mean with other migratory birds that may fly near them looking for food.