Caution: Translations of Quran and Ḥadīth may lead to possible misapplications and misinterpretations. This site is intended for students of sacred knowledge that are proficient in comprehending classical Arabic and have a strong foundation in Islamic sciences. Also note that religious injunctions rely on several aspects beyond what one may glean through reading individual aḥādīth.
malik:26-5Mālik > Rabīʿah b. Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥman > Muḥammad b. Ibrāhīm b. al-Ḥārith al-Taymī

Yahya related to me from Malik from Rabia ibn Abi Abd ar-Rahman that Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn al-Harith at-Taymi said, "I heard my father say that the aqiqa was desirable, even if it was only a sparrow."  

مالك:٢٦-٥وَحَدَّثَنِي عَنْ مَالِكٍ عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ التَّيْمِيِّ

أَنَّهُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبِي يَسْتَحِبُّ الْعَقِيقَةَ وَلَوْ بِعُصْفُورٍ