The One Bam Bird: Species, Sparrow, Peacock, and the Problem of Certainty

Photograph the particular bird

Record posture, tail, crest, feet, branch, plants, color, carving, and relationship to other decorated tiles. “Bird” is a valid starting identification.

Compare without collapsing

One Bam designs may be described as sparrows, peacocks, or other birds in different sets and sources. A general marketplace claim cannot settle a specific image.

• Compare documented sets.
• Separate species from symbolic association.
• Do not infer age from bird style alone.

Treat the sparrow connection carefully

Mahjong has an important historical linguistic association with “sparrow,” but the exact path is complicated. The shuffling-sounds-like-sparrows story should not be presented as certain origin.