Little birds are the members of a network of spies and informants in the service of Varys, the Master of Whisperers on the small council of the Red Keep. Many of Varys's "little birds" are seemingly innocuous street children, although adults are counted among their ranks as well. Apparently Varys informally refers to his spies as "my little birds" due to the common euphemism for spying, that "a little bird told me". Varys's network spans not only the length and breadth of Westeros, but also Essos as far east as Vaes Dothrak and Slaver's Bay and possibly even Qarth.