It is narrated from Hisham bin Urwah (may Allah have mercy on him) that Sayyiduna Ibn Zubair (may Allah be pleased with them both) was the governor of Makkah, while the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to keep birds in cages.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) entered (the house of Sayyiduna Abu Talhah, may Allah be pleased with him) and saw one of Abu Talhah’s sons, who was called Abu Umair, looking distressed. He had a small bird with which he used to play. (It had died.) So the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:“Abu Umair! What happened to your bird? Or where has it gone?”