a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

The story

1. Latin · borrowed fromplus valet in manibus avis unica quam dupla silvis“a single bird in the hands is worth more than two in the forest”
2. English todaya bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

Calque of Latin plus valet in manibus avis unica quam dupla silvis (“a single bird in the hands is worth more than two in the forest”), possibly deriving from sources as old as the ancient Middle East, with the 6th century BCE Proverbs of Ahiqar including "a sparrow in thy hand is better than a thousand sparrows flying".

First known use, by meaning

• 15th c. A sure thing is preferable to the mere chance at something more.