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Glite Dictionary
suborder Passeres

suborder Passeres

9.8
A group of birds that includes common songbirds
  • noun
  • /ˈsʌbˌɔrdər ˈpæsəriz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : suborden Passeres
  • The suborder Passeres includes many species of songbirds.

Examples

  • The suborder Passeres includes many well-known songbirds found throughout the world.

  • Scientists have long debated the evolutionary relationships within the suborder Passeres.

  • Robins and sparrows are common members of the suborder Passeres.

  • Birdwatchers often seek out the suborder Passeres for their beautiful songs.

  • Robins and sparrows are common members of the suborder Passeres.

  • The suborder Passeres includes many well-known songbirds found throughout the world.

  • Birdwatchers often seek out the suborder Passeres for their beautiful songs.

Synonyms

Oscines
vssuborder Passeres
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of birds, like sparrows and finches, that sing complex songs

is the taxonomic group of typical songbirds without stressing vocal organ complexity
Passeres
vssuborder Passeres
  • Archaic
9.9

A large group of songbirds that includes sparrows and robins

refers to the formal suborder of typical songbirds distinct from the older broader usage

Surface Forms

suborder Passeres singular
suborders Passeres plural

Morphology

suborder + Passeres

The meaning is directly derived from combining 'suborder' (a taxonomic rank) with 'Passeres' (the named taxonomic group of songbirds), so the phrase literally denotes the suborder belonging to Passeres. This is a compositional, non-idiomatic taxonomic construction (common across languages), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would understand it.

Etymology

Suborder Passeres The name suborder Passeres comes from Latin: Passeres is the word for 'sparrow', and suborder shows it is a smaller group inside a larger set of birds. So today suborder Passeres refers to the subgroup of typical 'songbirds' that perch and sing.