passerine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “passerine” mean?
A bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes perching birds and songbirds, characterized by having three toes pointing forward and one back, enabling perching.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes perching birds and songbirds, characterized by having three toes pointing forward and one back, enabling perching.
Relating to or characteristic of the large order of birds that includes perching birds and songbirds; resembling or of the nature of a perching bird.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage; identical in both scientific and general contexts.
Connotations
Exclusively technical/scientific; no colloquial or cultural connotations differ between regions.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general everyday language in both regions, restricted almost entirely to ornithological contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “passerine” in a Sentence
[passerine] + [noun] (as adjective: passerine bird)[noun] + [is/was] + [passerine] (as noun: The robin is a passerine.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “passerine” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The blackbird is a classic passerine species in British gardens.
- The guide listed both passerine and non-passerine wildlife.
American English
- Finches and sparrows are familiar passerine birds at the feeder.
- Passerine vocalizations were recorded for the study.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in biological and zoological research papers, textbooks, and field guides. Example: 'The study focused on the evolution of passerine beak morphology.'
Everyday
Extremely rare. May appear in high-level nature documentaries or among birdwatching enthusiasts.
Technical
Core term in ornithology for classification and description. Example: 'Passerines constitute over half of all bird species.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “passerine”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “passerine”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “passerine”
- Mispronunciation: /pəˈsɛriːn/ or /ˈpæsəriːn/. Correct stress is on the first syllable.
- Incorrectly using it for all small birds (some small birds like woodpeckers are non-passerine).
- Spelling: 'passarine', 'paserine'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost, but not exactly. 'Songbird' usually refers to the suborder Passeri (oscines), which is the largest group within passerines. Some passerines, like crows, are not typically considered songbirds in the common sense.
Common non-passerine birds include ducks, hawks, owls, woodpeckers, and chickens. They have different foot structures and are not part of the perching bird order.
Yes, it is commonly used as an adjective, as in 'passerine ecology' or 'passerine morphology'.
It is a precise scientific classification term. In everyday life, people use common names like 'songbird', 'perching bird', or the specific bird's name (e.g., robin, sparrow) instead of the taxonomic label.
A bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes perching birds and songbirds, characterized by having three toes pointing forward and one back, enabling perching.
Passerine is usually technical/scientific in register.
Passerine: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpasərʌɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpæsəraɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a bird PASSing ERIN (a name) while sitting on a branch. PASS-ERINE: a perching bird.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a passerine bird?