Passerine
A member of the very large order Passeriformes, usually called 'perching birds' (literally 'sparrow-like' birds). Over half the world's birds are passerines and the order Passeriformes is divided into four sub-orders, of which the only one represented in the British Isles is the sub-order oscines. Those birds which are not placed in the order Passeriformes are called 'non-passerines', while those non-passerines which are most closely related to the passerines are called 'near passerines', examples of the latter being the swifts (family Apodidae) and the woodpeckers (family Picidae).From Peter Weaver's Birdwatcher's Dictionary
Copyright © 1981 by Peter Weaver