Birds and insects which migrate seasonally and on a regular basis are frequently identified as human souls, and therefore, one theory has it that Russet (or Cinnamon) Sparrows which actually breed in Tohoku region in summer, migrate all over the country and damage agricultural products in autumn would probably be associated with the incarnation of Sanekata who had been relegated to Tohoku.
一定の時期に来訪する鳥や昆虫は人間の霊魂と同一視されることが多く、実在するニュウナイスズメは夏季に東北地方で繁殖し、秋季に全国に渡来して農作物に被害をもたらすことから、これが東北に左遷された実方の化身だと想像されたとの説もある。