passerine

[ pas-er-in, -uh-rahyn, -uh-reen ]
/ ˈpæs ər ɪn, -əˌraɪn, -əˌrin /

adjective

of, belonging, or pertaining to the order Passeriformes, comprising more than half of all birds and typically having the feet adapted for perching.
oscine(def 1).

noun

any bird of the order Passeriformes.

Origin of passerine

1770–80; < Latin passerīnus of a sparrow, equivalent to passer sparrow + -īnus -ine1

OTHER WORDS FROM passerine

non·pas·ser·ine, adjective, noun

Words nearby passerine

passepied, passer, passer-by, passerby, passeriform, passerine, passible, passifloraceous, passim, passing, passing bell

British Dictionary definitions for non-passerines

passerine
/ (ˈpæsəˌraɪn, -ˌriːn) /

adjective

of, relating to, or belonging to the Passeriformes, an order of birds characterized by the perching habit: includes the larks, finches, crows, thrushes, starlings, etc

noun

any bird belonging to the order Passeriformes

Word Origin for passerine

C18: from Latin passer sparrow

Scientific definitions for non-passerines

passerine
[ păs′ə-rīn′ ]

Belonging to the avian order Passeriformes, which includes the perching birds. Passerine birds make up more than half of all living birds. They are of small to medium size, have three toes pointing forward and one pointing back, and are often brightly colored. Larks, swallows, jays, crows, wrens, thrushes, cardinals, finches, sparrows, and blackbirds are all passerine birds.