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Passeriformes

Passeriformes

9.7
A large group of birds that usually perch on branches, like sparrows and robins
  • noun
  • /ˌpæsəˈrɪfɔrmiːz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Passeriformes
  • Many common birds, such as sparrows and robins, belong to the order Passeriformes.

Examples

  • In my backyard, I have seen a variety of Passeriformes species, including finches and swallows.

  • Birdwatchers often enjoy identifying different Passeriformes as they visit parks and gardens.

  • I am a professor of ornithology by trade—with a specialty in North American seedeaters (Passeriformes Fringillidae)—but an amateur lutanist at heart.

    Fiction book (1999)

Synonyms

Passeres
vsPasseriformes
  • Archaic
9.9

A large group of songbirds that includes sparrows and robins

is the official current large bird order that includes many perching species

Surface Forms

Passeriformes singular
Passeriformes plural

Etymology

Passeriformes comes from the Latin passer meaning 'sparrow' and the ending -iformes meaning 'in the form of' or 'like'. So the name literally means 'sparrow-like' birds, which fits because this order includes sparrows and many other perching birds such as finches and robins.