Beccafico

Various small birds belong to this family, which takes its name from their habit of eating figs, grapes and other juicy berries. Their meat is especially flavoursome when they feed on figs, of which they are particularly fond. They are quite rare birds and because of this their hunting is usually illegal. The majority of those sold in specialist shops come from abroad so that the consciences of the Italians who enjoy them are not troubled. The birds are prepared and cooked in the same way as sparrows. In Sicily, the name of this bird has been given to a recipe for sardines, sardine alla beccafico, which probably indicates that the fish should be cooked in the same way as the bird.