noun
twittering of a bush warbler (esp. in winter); tiny twittering
Refers specifically to the soft, subdued call of the Japanese bush warbler (uguisu), especially its winter chirping. Also used more generally for any faint, delicate bird-like twittering.
冬の朝、庭から笹鳴きが聞こえてきた。
On a winter morning, I heard the tiny twittering of a bush warbler from the garden.
まだ寒い時期の鶯の笹鳴きは、春を待つ風情がある。
The bush warbler's winter twittering has a charm that makes one long for spring.
Compound of 笹 (sasa, 'bamboo grass') and 鳴き (naki, 'cry, call'), from the bush warbler's habit of hiding in bamboo thickets while making this soft sound. The alternate spelling 小鳴き uses 小 (small) to emphasize the faintness of the call.