The Dutch animal protection agency said today it is investigating the shooting of a sparrow that knocked over 23,000 dominoes set up as part of an attempt to enter the record books.

The ill-fated bird flew into an exposition centre and wreaked havoc on the domino chain yesterday before being chased into a corner and shot dead by an exterminator with an air rifle.

The bird was a common house sparrow – a species that was placed on the national endangered list last year.

“Under Dutch law, you need a permit to kill this kind of bird, and a permit can only be granted when there’s a danger to public health or a crop,” said agency spokesman Niels Dorland.

Dorland said the agency plans to submit the case to national prosecutors.