1000+ images about animals: birds - passerines on Pinterest | Passerine, Flycatchers and Finches Pinterest • The world’s catalog of ideas animals: birds - passerines photos of birds that are passerines (AKA perching birds or songbirds). please see my water birds, birds of prey, and other birds boards for different types of birds. other animals are on separate boards. 213 Pins347 Followers Passerine Definition - What Are Perching Birds (noun) A perching bird in the formal scientific order Passeriformes. Pronunciation: PASS-err-eyen or PASS-err-eeen What Birds Are Passerines - And Why The Passeriformes is the largest order of birds and includes more than half the world's different bird species, with more than 5,000 unique species classified as passerines.

Often inaccurately called songbirds - not all of these birds are equally vocally adept - most birds in this classification do share many characteristics, including: Small to medium body size with generally upright relaxed posture Relatively vocal, including different calls and often, though not always, elaborate songs Altricial chicks that need extensive parent care after hatching Relatively bright plumage colors or distinct markings Unwebbed toes and feet equipped with distinct talons The most prominent characteristic shared by all passerine birds is the anisodactyl arrangement of toes . These birds have four toes, three facing forward and one backward, an arrangement which allows the bird to easily cling to both horizontal and nearly vertical perches, including branches and tree trunks. continue reading below our video 5 Home Accents & Accessories You Can DIY These birds also have an adaptation in their legs that gives them extra strength for perching. In fact, the relaxed position of their feet and talons is to be clenched securely, so the birds are able to perch easily even when sleeping and will not lose their grip.

With more than half the world's birds classified as passerines, these birds are familiar to all birders, and include species such as warblers, thrushes, tanagers, sparrows, finches, jays, larks, tits and wrens. Non-Passerine Birds Because there are so many birds that can be classified as passerines and they are so diverse, it can be easier to note which birds are not considered passeriforms in order to better understand the differences between types. Birds that do not fit within this order include: Ducks, geese, swans and similar waterfowl Woodpeckers Hawks, eagles, owls and other birds of prey Hummingbirds Flamingos, herons, egrets and other wading birds Plovers, sandpipers and similar shorebirds Swifts, swallows and martins While some of these birds may share a few characteristics with the passeriforms, none of them share every trait in order to be lumped into the same general classification. These are only a few examples of birds that do not belong to the passerines, but demonstrate just how diverse worldwide avifauna can be.

Passerine Jizz and Bird Identification Comparing the overall characteristics of each type of bird can help birders better understand which birds are passerines and which are not. This can help birders better identify the jizz of a bird and begin narrowing down the type of bird to a specific species. In many cases, the first step of that identification is to note whether or not the bird is a passerine. Once that is determined, individual traits can quickly pinpoint an exact bird species. Also Known As: Passerine - definition of passerine by The Free Dictionary Passerine - definition of passerine by The Free Dictionary (păs′ə-rīn′) adj. Of or relating to birds of the order Passeriformes, which have feet specialized for grasping branches and similar structures, with the first toe facing backward. The order includes the songbirds and certain other groups, such as the flycatchers of the Americas. n. A bird of the order Passeriformes. Also called perching bird.

[Latin passerīnus, of sparrows, from passer, sparrow.] passerine (ˈpæsəˌraɪn; -ˌriːn) adj (Animals) 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 n (Animals) any bird belonging to the order Passeriformes [C18: from Latin passer sparrow] pas•ser•ine (ˈpæs ər ɪn, -əˌraɪn, -əˌrin) adj. 1. of, belonging, or pertaining to the order Passeriformes, comprising more than half of all birds and typically having the feet adapted for perching. n. 2. any bird of the order Passeriformes. [1770–80; < Latin passerīnus of a sparrow] pas·ser·ine (păs′ə-rīn′) Belonging to the order of perching birds, including more than half of all living birds.

Passerine birds are of small to medium size, have three toes pointing forward and one pointing back, and are often brightly colored. The songbirds are passerines. ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: Noun 1.

passerine - perching birds mostly small and living near the ground with feet having 4 toes arranged to allow for gripping the perch; most are songbirds; hatchlings are helpless passeriform bird bird - warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings order Passeriformes , Passeriformes - largest order of birds comprising about half the known species; rooks; finches; sparrows; tits; warblers; robins; wrens; swallows; etc.; the four suborders are Eurylaimi and Tyranni and Menurae and Oscines or Passeres oscine , oscine bird - passerine bird having specialized vocal apparatus sparrow , true sparrow - any of several small dull-colored singing birds feeding on seeds or insects lyrebird - Australian bird that resembles a pheasant; the courting male displays long tail feathers in a lyre shape scrub bird , scrubbird , scrub-bird - small fast-running Australian bird resembling a wren and frequenting brush or scrub broadbill - small birds of the Old World tropics having bright plumage and short wide bills tyrannid - a passerine bird of the suborder Tyranni jenny wren , wren

 - any of several small active brown birds of the northern hemisphere with short upright tails; they feed on insects Adj.

passerine - relating to or characteristic of the passeriform birds nonpasserine - relating to or characteristic of birds that are not perching birds Passeriformes Passeriformes Click on an image to view larger version & data in a new window This tree diagram shows the relationships between several groups of organisms. The root of the current tree connects the organisms featured in this tree to their containing group and the rest of the Tree of Life. The basal branching point in the tree represents the ancestor of the other groups in the tree. This ancestor diversified over time into several descendent subgroups, which are represented as internal nodes and terminal taxa to the right. You can click on the root to travel down the Tree of Life all the way to the root of all Life, and you can click on the names of descendent subgroups to travel up the Tree of Life all the way to individual species. For more information on ToL tree formatting, please see Interpreting the Tree or Classification . To learn more about phylogenetic trees, please visit our Phylogenetic Biology pages. close box Containing group: 'Land Birds' Introduction The Passeriformes is the largest and most diverse commonly recognized clade of birds.

The Passeriformes (or ‘passerine’ birds) are synonymous with what are commonly known as "perching birds"; this group also contains within it a major radiation commonly known as songbirds (oscine Passerines or Passeri). Of the 10,000 or so extant species of birds, over half (~5,300) are perching birds. Perching birds have a worldwide distribution, with representatives on all continents except Antarctica, and reaching their greatest diversity in the tropics. Body sizes of passerines vary from about 1.4 kg in northern populations of Ravens (Corvus corax) to just a few grams. Perching birds include some of the most colorful and mysterious of all birds, such as birds of paradise from New Guinea and the bright orange Cock of the Rock from tropical South America. Because of their high diversity, generally small body size and relative ease of observation, collection and field study, perching birds have historically attracted the attention of a wide range of descriptive and experimental biologists, including systematists, behavioral ecologists, and evolutionary biologists.

Monophyly and Sister Group Historically, it is generally agreed that the Passeriformes constitute a monophyletic group. Raikow (1982) established this monophyly in an explicitly phylogenetic context. He noted that Passeriformes possess a suite of distinguishing characteristics, including a unique sperm morphology, a distinctive morphology of the bony palate, a simple yet functionally diverse foot with three toes forward and one (the hallux) oriented backwards, and a distinctive fore- (wing) and hindlimb musculature. There are few if any species which pose problems for avian systematists as to whether they are or are not passerines. Most of the controversy lies in relationships within the clade. The sister group of the Passeriformes is not so much hotly contested as it is poorly resolved by existing data sets. Traditionally, Passeriformes have been considered closely related to a large group known as the “higher non-Passerines”. These include a number of clades such as cuckoos (Cuculiformes), hornbills, kingfishers and related lineages (Coraciiformes), and woodpeckers and relatives (Piciformes).

Many of these groups possess a zygodactyl foot, a condition in which two toes point forward and two point backward. The sister relationship of Passeriformes to woodpeckers, the hornbill group and allies is reflected in Joel Cracraft’s phylogenetic hypothesis for major groups of birds based on cladistic interpretation of morphological and molecular characters (Cracraft, 1988). However, in the other major classification bearing on the relationships of perching birds, that based on DNA-DNA hybridization, Passeriformes appear as the sister group to a large, diverse group containing pigeons and doves (Columbiformes), cranes and rails (Gruiformes) and storks (Ciconiiformes)! These latter three groups share few obvious morphological characteristics with Passeriformes. However, the DNA hybridization tree links Passeriformes with these groups at a very deep level in the tree, rendering this result tenuous. A recent study of nuclear DNA sequences by Hackett et al. (2008) finds Psittaciformes (parrots) to be the sister group of passerines, with Falconidae (falcons) also close.

Clearly, more work on the sister-group relationship of Passeriformes is needed, since this relationship will be the basis of any study seeking to identify whether or not Passeriformes are a particularly diverse group (e.g., Nee et al. 1992). Major Groups of Passeriformes The basal lineages of passeriformes have for over a century included two major clades, the oscines and suboscines. Suboscines (sometimes called Tyranni, though this name has confusingly been used also for more restrictive groups within Suboscines) are a largely tropical group of about 1,000 species that reaches its greatest diversity in South America; most suboscines are thought to sing “innate” songs. Oscines (Passeri) include about 4,000 species and are what many laypersons refer to as “songbirds”; they are worldwide in distribution and are distinguished from suboscines by a complex voice box (syrinx) and song learning capacity.

The German anatomist Müller first drew attention to the syringeal differences (Müller, 1878), and since then both morphological (Ames, 1971) and molecular (Edwards et al., 1991; Sibley and Ahlquist, 1990) analyses have confirmed this basic division of perching birds. However, it has recently been determined that an even more basal division within passerines is between the diminutive New Zealand wrens (Acanthisittidae; Raikow, 1987) and all others (Barker et al. 2002, 2004). Diversity of Passeriformes Species diversity: The tradition of recognizing perching birds (Passeriformes) as the most diverse and rapidly radiating clade has been questioned because there are few obvious “key innovations” that should cause systematists to recognize Passeriformes over any other arbitrarily larger or smaller monophyletic group within birds (Raikow, 1986).

One point that has been missed in debates on this issue is that the branch leading to the songbirds (oscines), a group comprising 80% of extant perching birds, is the longest internal branch on the DNA hybridization tree produced by Sibley and Ahlquist (1990). This branch has also been one of the few to be well resolved in applications of mtDNA sequences to higher level questions in birds, presumably because it is long. Given the large number of clades that will require names under phylogenetic taxonomy, perhaps the length of branches leading to particular clades should be one criterion whereby systematists decide which of the many clades to name. Behavioral diversity: It is extremely difficult to generalize about any of the behaviors or nesting habits of passerines, because as a group they are so diverse. Perching birds exhibit a bewildering array of plumages and colors derived from diverse keratin structures as well as ingested pigments, such as carotenoids (Gray, 1996).

Many passerines, such as some Old World Flycatchers (Muscicapidae) and African Widowbirds (Viduinae) have extremely long tail feathers or highly modified plumes (Birds of Paradise: Paradisaeidae) used in courtship displays. Several groups such as the Wattlebirds of New Zealand (Callaeidae) and Honeyeaters (Meliphagidae) have fleshy, bright blue, red or yellow wattles on the face and neck. Perching birds build their nests generally out of sticks or grass on the ground, in trees, and in the case of Dippers (Cinclidae) in the banks of fast-flowing rivers. Many passerines migrate from their nesting grounds in the Nearctic and Palearctic to more equatorial regions, or from southern temperate regions north to the tropics. Parental care by both sexes is common in passerines, although in some highly dimorphic and predominantly lekking groups, such as manakins (Prum, 1994) and birds of paradise (Diamond, 1986), females alone provide for young and build the nest.

Cooperative breeding, in which young birds delay breeding and assist other individuals (often parents) in raising young and defending the territory, is common in several passerine groups, such as Australian fairy wrens (Maluridae) and New World Jays (Corvidae; Brown, 1987; Edwards and Naeem, 1993). Some of the most elaborate singers in the bird world are passerines (Kroodsma and Miller, 1996). Some passerine birds are poisonous to the touch and are avoided as prey by indigenous peoples (Dumbacher et al., 1992). Origin and biogeography of passerines: The temporal and geographic origin of passerine birds is obscure. Traditionally the group was thought to have originated in the Tertiary, at about the same time as extant orders of mammals. Some recent workers favor a later, Eocene origin (Feduccia, 1995; Wilson, 1989), but the DNA -DNA hybridization data again favors an earlier origin (Sibley and Ahlquist, 1990).

Recently some of the oldest oscine fossils have been uncovered in Queensland, Australia (Boles, 1995); this and other paleobiogeographical data suggest that passerines may have in fact originated in the Southern hemisphere (Olson, 1989). Other Names for Passeriformes Passerine Birds References Barker, F. K., G. F. Barrowclough, and J. G. Groth. 2002. A phylogenetic hypothesis for passerine birds; Taxonomic and biogeographic implications of an analysis of nuclear DNA sequence data. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 269:295-308. Barker, F. K., A. Cibois, P. Schikler, J. Feinstein, and J. Cracraft. 2004. Phylogeny and diversification of the largest avian radiation. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101:11040-11045. Boles, W. E. (1995). The world's oldest songbird.

Nature 374, 21-22. Brown, J. L. (1987). Helping and Communal Breeding in Birds. In Monographs in Behavioral Ecolog. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. Collias, N. E. 1997. On the origin and evolution of nest building by passerine birds. Condor 99:253ï¿½270. Cracraft, J. (1988). The major clades of birds. In The Phylogeny and Classification of the Tetrapods, Volume 1: Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, vol. 35A (ed. M.J.Benton), pp. 339-361. Oxford: Clarendon Press. Diamond, J. (1986). Biology of birds of paradise and bowerbirds. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 17, 17-37. Dumbacher, J. P., Beehler, B. M., Spande, T. F., Garraffo, H. M. and Daly, J. W. (1992).

Homobatrachotoxin in the genus Pitohui : chemical defence in birds? Science 258, 799-801. Edwards, S V, Arctander, Wilson and A C. (1991). Mitochondrial resolution of a deep branch in the genealogical tree for perching birds. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London series B 247, 99-107. Edwards, S. V. and Naeem, S. (1993). The phylogenetic component of cooperative breeding in perching birds. The American Naturalist 141, 754-789. Ericson, P. G. P., L. Christidis, A. Cooper, M. Irestedt, J. Jackson, U. S. Johansson, and J. A. Norman. 2002. A Gondwanan origin of passerine birds supported by DNA sequences of the endemic New Zealand wrens. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B 269:235ï¿½241. Ericson, P. G. P., M.

Irestedt, and U. S. Johansson. 2003. Evolution, biogeography, and patterns of diversification in passerine birds. J. Avian Biol. 34:3-15. Espinosa, A. and Cracraft, J. (1994). Molecular phylogeny of the lyrebird. Journal fï¿½r Ornithologie 135, 29. Feduccia, A. (1995). Explosive radiation in Tertiary birds and mammals. Science 267, 637-638. Feduccia, A. and Olson, S. L. (1982). Morphological similarities between the Menurae and the Rhinocryptidae, relict passerine birds of the Southern hemisphere. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 366, 1-22. Gray, D. A. (1996). Carotenoids and sexual dichromatism in North American passerine birds. The American Naturalist 148, 453-480. Johansson, U. S., J.

Fjeldsï¿½ and R. C.K. Bowie. 2008. Phylogenetic relationships within Passerida (Aves: Passeriformes): A review and a new molecular phylogeny based on three nuclear intron markers. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 48(3):858-876. Hackett, S. J., Kimball, R. T., Reddy, S., Bowie, R. C. K., Braun, E. L., Braun, M. J., Chojnowski, J. L., Cox, W. A., Han, K.-L., Harshman, J., Huddleston, C. J., Marks, B. D., Miglia, K. J., Moore, W. A., Sheldon, F. H., Steadman, D. W., Witt, C. C., and Yuri, T. 2008. A phylogenomic study of birds reveals their evolutionary history. Science 320(5884):1763-1768. Kroodsma, D. E. and Miller, E. H. (1996).

Ecology and Evolution of Acoustic Communication in Birds. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. Lovette, I. J., and E. Bermingham. 2000. c-mos variation in songbirds: Molecular evolution, phylogenetic implications, and comparisons with mitochondrial differentiation. Mol. Biol. Evol. 17:1569-1577. Manegold A., Mayr G., Mourer-Chauvirï¿½ C. 2004. Miocene songbirds and the composition of the European passeriform avifauna. Auk 121: 1155ï¿½1160. Mï¿½ller, J. P. (1878). On certain variations in the vocal organs of the Passeres that have hitherto escaped notice. London: Macmillan. Nee, S., Mooers, A., and Harvey, P. H. (1992). Tempo and mode of evolution revealed from molecular phylogenies. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) 89, 8322-8326. Olson, S. L.

(1989). Aspects of global avifaunal dynamics during the Cenozoic. In Proceedings of the XIX International Ornithological Congress, vol. 29, pp. 2023-2029. Christchurch, New Zealand. Prum, R. O. (1994). Phylogenetic analysis of alternative social behavior in the manakins (Aves: Pipridae). Evolution 48, 1657-1665. Raikow, R. J. (1982). Monophyly of the Passeriformes: test of a phylogenetic hypothesis. Auk 99, 431-455. Raikow, R. J. (1986). Why are there so many kinds of passerine birds? Systematic Zoology 35, 255-259. Raikow, R. J. (1987). Hindlimb myology and evolution of the Old World suboscine passerine birds. Ornithological Monographs 41:1-81. Raikow, R. J.

and Bledsoe AH (2000). Phylogeny and evolution of the passerine birds. Bioscience 50(6):487-499. Ricklefs, R. E. (2003). Global diversification rates of passerine birds. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London series B 270(1530):2285-2291. Ricklefs, R. E. (2006). Global variation in the diversification rate of passerine birds. Ecology 87(10):2468-2478. Sibley, C. G. and Ahlquist, J. E. (1990). Phylogeny and Classification of Birds. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. Wetmore, A. (1960). A Classification for the Birds of the World. Smithsonian Miscillaneous Collections 39, 1-37. Wilson, A. C. (1989). Time scale for bird evolution.

Proceedings of the XIX International Ornithological Congress 19, 1912-1917. Title Illustrations Nutrition in Passerines - Management and Nutrition - Veterinary Manual Nutrition in Passerines By Joeke Nijboer, PhD, Rotterdam Zoo Nutrition: Exotic and Zoo Animals Nutrition in Fish The order Passeriformes contains >5,000 species of birds and includes frugivorous, carnivorous, insectivorous, and granivorous species. Most passerines maintained as pets (finches and canaries) have historically been fed primarily seed and are considered florivorous to granivorous. Commercial seed mixtures for canaries often contain a mixture of canary, rape, niger, hemp, linseed, and oats. Most of these commercially available seed mixtures are deficient in numerous vitamins and amino acids. The fat-soluble vitamins A, D3, E, and K are generally low, the calcium:phosphorus ratio is poor, and the amino acids lysine and methionine are insufficient.

High amounts of fat in seed-based diets can lead to obesity and to nutritional disorders in the offered food (eg, calcium and vitamin deficiency, as well as an amino acid disorder). Egg food (hard-boiled egg–based soft food with added vitamins and minerals) has traditionally been fed by canary breeders during the reproductive season, with soaked seed added to increase acceptance. Extruded pellets, such as organic pellets or pellet-based mash, which contains balanced nutrients, are offered by many breeders as a nutritionally consistent alternative. Pellets are fed for maintenance or breeding purposes. Extruded pellets fed for breeding contain 18%–22% crude protein as well as a limited amount of fat (5%–8%), compared with the high amounts of fat in seeds. Soluble grit (ie, oyster shell, cuttlebone) should be provided to canaries and finches. Sprouts, fruits, and vegetables may be psychologically stimulating and enhance breeding in these passerines. Plumage colors in canaries partially depend on the pigments in the diet. For example, red-colored canaries are fed canthaxanthins before breeding season.

Carotenoids vary in their bioavailability, and there are species differences in the types of carotenoids absorbed and metabolized. Nutrition: Exotic and Zoo Animals Taxonomy: Passerine | LafeberVet LafeberVet The Parrot Brain On Shapes: Similarities with Human Visual Processing Objects are often not fully visible in everyday life. Human beings are capable of processing the complex visual information related to “incompleteness” because our visual environment is primarily composed of opaque objects that can overlap and partially hide each other. Scientists believe that many nonhuman species are also able to deal with “incompleteness”… Article Wait For It…A Grey Parrot Demonstrates Self-Control “Griffin”, a grey parrot in Dr. Irene Pepperberg’s animal behavior and avian cognition lab, could wait up to 15 minutes for a better quality reward, even though both treats offered were preferred food items. Griffin displayed delayed gratification for longer than any previously tested avian subject including Goffin’s cockatoos. Fifteen minutes was the longest time evaluated, not necessarily the longest length of time Griffin could wait.

Explore the history of similar research in children and animals as well as the specific results of the study led by Adrienne E. Koepke of Hunter College and Suzanne L. Gray of Harvard University. Also learn more about Dr. Irene Pepperberg and the fascinating work of The Alex Foundation. Article Avian Bornavirus and Proventricular Dilatation Disease: Facts, Questions, and Controversies Proventricular dilatation disease or PDD is one of the most frustrating avian conditions encountered today. The recent discovery of a causal relationship between PDD and avian bornavirus has not simplified the challenges that are faced. The detection of avian bornavirus infection is common in birds with PDD but is also detected in birds with other chronic diseases that are not diagnosed with PDD. Proventricular dilatation disease was first reported in the late 1970s… Article Fungal Disease in Avian Patients Fungi are among the most common causes of infectious disease in captive birds, and fungal diseases can be challenging to diagnose, as well as treat. Because fungi are typically opportunistic, causing non-contagious disease in susceptible individuals, prevention and treatment require an understanding of etiology as well as predisposing factors.

Article There are a number of potential nutritional problems that can promote renal disease. Excess dietary protein, excess dietary calcium, hypovitaminosis A, or hypervitaminosis D may lead to nephritis or other degenerative renal changes… Article Expert Panel on Companion Bird Nutrition In 1998, an expert committee met to discuss the nutritional needs of companion birds. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss and develop nutrient profiles for companion birds, focusing on profiles for formulated feed. The expert panel developed maintenance guidelines for two broad groups of birds: psittacines and passerines (regardless of size or genus). These conservative, generalized guidelines are extrapolated from the National Research Council requirements for poultry and… Article Hemochromatosis, “iron overload”, or “iron storage disease” is the excess accumulation of iron within parenchyma, especially in the liver and eventually in the heart and spleen. Elevated iron stores eventually lead to hepatocyte damage and fibrosis. Article Nutritional Management of Obesity in Birds Unfortunately the sedentary lifestyle of the companion bird makes obesity one of the most common forms of malnutrition seen in clinical practice.

Pet birds are fed too much food or they are fed diets rich in sources of fat, such as sunflower seeds . Article Seeds Commonly Fed to Companion Birds There are two types of seeds fed to pet birds: oil seeds and non-oil seeds. Oil seeds are a rich source of energy and vitamin E. Oil seeds such as sunflower seeds contain at least 50% fat and are low in calcium. Non-oil seeds such as millet are much lower in fat when compared to oil seeds and the energy present is stored as starch. Article Presenting Problem Presenting problem: Upper Respiratory Signs in the Bird Rhinitis or sinusitis in the bird can include a host of clinical signs including congestion, sneezing, oculonasal discharge, exophthalmos, as well as non-specific signs of illness such as reduced appetite, lethargy, and weight loss. If disease extends lower into the lower respiratory tract, cough, tachypnea, and… Article Presenting Problem Change in bird song or loss of voice can be valuable diagnostic clues.

When a bird is presented for a change in or loss of voice, this will localize lesions to the… Article “Normal Body Weights in Birds” is a collection of normal reported weights in common companion birds and birds of prey presented in table format. Keep in mind that reported normal body weights for a given species can vary significantly… Article Passerine Anatomy: Ten Key Facts Perching birds or songbirds belong to order Passeriformes, which makes up the largest taxonomic group of birds. Passeriforms make up nearly 60% of all birds with over 5,000 species belonging to this group. If you are comfortable with psittacine anatomy and physiology, then you are well on your way to understanding passerines. LafeberVet has listed ten interesting, clinically significant facts about passerine anatomy and physiology… Article Salmonellosis in Songbirds – Five Key Facts It is important for animal health care professionals to recognize the potential hazards of working with passerine birds so that appropriate measures can be taken to minimize the risk of contracting disease.

Wild bird isolates of Salmonella enterica serotype typhimurium may not represent a large zoonotic risk to the general population, however the vast majority of sick and dying songbirds harbor this microbe. Article Diseases of Songbirds: A “Cheat” Sheet Approach to the passerine relies on the same concepts of “One Medicine” used as in all animals. Nevertheless many of the infectious agents diagnosed in songbirds are relatively unique to this taxonomic group, or at least much more prevalent when compared to parrots or birds of prey. Article Avian Polyomavirus Primer Signs of avian polyomavirus type 1 in the budgerigar parakeet can be quite variable. Feather dystrophy or abnormal feather growth can lead to deformed flight feathers. Affected birds are unable to fly and are called “runners” or “creepers”. “French molt” is a term sometimes used for this slow, debilitating disease in parakeets characterized by progressive development of abnormal feathers. Bleeding is another hallmark of clinical avian polyomavirus infection… Article Diseases of Songbirds: A “Cheat” Sheet Approach to the passerine bird relies on the same concepts of “One Medicine” used in all animals.

Nevertheless many of the infectious agents diagnosed in songbirds are relatively unique to this taxonomic group, or at least much more prevalent when compared to psittacine birds or birds of prey. Article Songbird Housing Checklist When hospitalizing any wildlife patient, the goal should always be to transfer the animal to an experienced, licensed wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible. In the meantime, it is imperative that the passerine bird be housed appropriately to promote recovery and prevent injury. Article Physical Examination of the Avian Patient Be prepared for your next bird patient. Review the basic approach to the avian physical examination, including history, review of signalment, and visual examination. Key parts of the exam will vary, but generally include a body weight in grams, the oropharynx, crop, sternum, coelom, and vent. The fundus should be routinely evaluated in trauma patients… Information sheet Basic Information Sheet: Finch Finches are found worldwide. The Zebra finch, Owl finch and Gouldian finch are originally from Australia where large flocks may be found, mainly in arid grassland areas. Owl finches are also found in woodlands and scrublands.

The Bengalese or Society finch is a cross between the sharp-tailed munia and striata munia and was never found in nature. Of family Fringillidae, only the Red Siskin and the Yellow Siskin are listed in Appendix I and Appendix II of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) listings respectively. Appendix I species are threatened with extinction, and commercial trade is prohibited and importation/exportation for scientific research requires special permits. Appendix II species are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but may become so unless their trade is strictly regulated. Information sheet Basic Information Sheet: Canary Originating from the Canary Islands, the canary’s song captured the attention of Europeans, who started importing these birds in the late 1500’s. Although breeding for desirable traits has produced many variations, the wild canary is a small, green bird. Free-ranging populations are strong and are found in a wide variety of habitats, which is why the canary was placed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List category of “Least Concern”.

Client Education Handout Avian bornavirus was identified as a cause of proventricular dilatation disease or PDD in 2008. Avian bornavirus infection is one of the most frustrating diseases encountered in avian medicine… Article Nutritional Strategy: Nectarivory in Birds 10 Facts You Should Know Although nectar is considered a nutritional reward for pollination, it is probably the most nutrient-dilute food consumed by birds. Nectar meets less than 15% of essential amino acid requirements and is particularly low in methionine. In fact nutrients other than sugars, such as protein, vitamins, trace minerals, and lipids are present in nectar at levels considered inadequate for growth, reproduction, or even maintenance activity… Article Just in time for Halloween, get fun facts on the much maligned, much misunderstood, but always interesting family Corvidae. Client Education Handout Egg Laying Problems Client Handout Reproductive problems are a common problem in many small pet bird species, particularly cockatiels, budgerigars parakeets, lovebirds, finches and canaries. In this client handout donated by Dr.

Eric Klaphake, egg laying problems from egg binding and egg yolk peritonitis to chronic egg laying are briefly explained to the companion parrot owner. Article Basic Cytology of the Avian Gastrointestinal Tract Historically, routine Gram’s stains were performed in apparently healthy birds. As our understanding of avian medicine has grown, avian veterinarians have questioned the reliability and validity of Gram’s stain cytology as a screening test. Cytology is indicated when specific problems are reported during a detailed medical history or when… Article Video Passerine Handling and Restraint Manual restraint is required for virtually any medical procedure in the songbird or passerine. Warn owners of the inherent risk of handling the critically ill bird. Minimize handling time so the bird does not overheat or become overly distressed, and monitor the bird closely for any change in strength, breathing, or attitude. Use this video clip or text with still images to review equipment needed as well as handling and restraint techniques. Article Little is known about the nutritional requirements of companion bird species. Dietary recommendations for pet birds are extrapolated from domestic poultry nutritional requirements; however these parameters are generally calculated to minimize cost while maximizing meat and egg production.

Article Restraint of Wild Birds In the best of captive situations, wild birds are still subject to significant stress. This is particularly true during phases of rehabilitation that require frequent capture and treatment. Experience with individual patients will dictate your approach to capture and restraint, but be aware that a slow, careful approach to capture followed by restriction of vision during restraint will generally yield best results. Article Video Passerine | All Birds Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Passerida Diversity Roughly 100 families, around 5,400 species A passerine is a bird of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds , the passerines form one of the most diverse terrestrial vertebrate orders: with over 5,000 identified species , [1] it has roughly twice as many species as the largest of the mammal orders, the Rodentia . It contains over 110 families, the second most of any order of vertebrates (after the Perciformes ). Together with parrots , cockatoos , falcons and caracaras and seriemas ; they form the clade Australaves .

The names "passerines" and "Passeriformes" are derived from Passer domesticus, the scientific name of the type species —the House Sparrow —and ultimately from the Latin term passer for Passer sparrows and similar small birds. Contents [ show ] Characteristics The order is divided into three suborders, Tyranni (suboscines), Passeri (oscines), and the basal Acanthisitti . Oscines have the best control of their syrinx muscles among birds, producing a wide range of songs and other vocalizations (though some of them, such as the crows , do not sound musical to human beings); some such as the lyrebird are accomplished imitators. The Acanthisittids or New Zealand wrens are tiny birds restricted to New Zealand , at least in modern times; they were long placed in Passeri; their taxonomic position is uncertain, though they seem to be a distinct and very ancient group. Most passerines are smaller than typical members of other avian orders.

The heaviest and altogether largest passerines are the Thick-billed Raven and the larger races of Common Raven , each exceeding 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) and 70 cm (28 in). The Superb Lyrebird and some birds-of-paradise , to 110 cm (43 in) due to very long tails or tail coverts, are longer overall.[ verification needed ] The smallest passerine is the Short-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant , at 6.5 cm (2.6 in) and 4.2 g (0.15 oz). File:PasserinePterylosis.jpg The foot of a passerine has three toes directed forward and one toe directed backwards, called anisodactyl arrangement. This arrangement enables the passerine birds to perch upon vertical surfaces, such as trees and cliffs. The toes have no webbing or joining, but in some cotingas the second and third toes are united at their basal third. The hind toe joins the leg at the same level as the front toes. In other orders of birds the toe arrangement is different. The leg muscle of passerine birds contains a special adaption for perching.

It will automatically tighten and become stiff, if the bird starts to lose hold of the branch on which it is perching. This enables passerine to sleep while perching without falling off. This is especially useful for passerine birds that develop nocturnal lifestyles. [2] Most passerine birds develop twelve tail feathers, though the Superb Lyrebird has sixteen.[ citation needed ] Certain species of passerines have stiff tail feathers, which help the birds balance themselves when perching upon vertical surfaces. The chicks of passerines are altricial ; blind, featherless, and helpless when hatched from their eggs. This requires that the chicks receive a lot of parental care. Most passerines lay coloured eggs, in contrast with non-passerines, most of whose eggs are white except in some ground-nesting groups such as Charadriiformes and nightjars , where camouflage is necessary, and some parasitic cuckoos , which match the passerine host's egg. Origin and evolution The evolutionary history of the passerine families and the relationships among them remained rather mysterious until the late 20th century.

In many cases, passerine families were grouped together on the basis of morphological similarities which, it is now believed, are the result of convergent evolution , not a close genetic relationship. For example, the " wrens " of the northern hemisphere, those of Australia , and those of New Zealand look very similar and behave in similar ways, and yet belong to three far-flung branches of the passerine family tree; they are as unrelated as it is possible to be while remaining Passeriformes. [3] Much research remains to be done, but advances in molecular biology and improved paleobiogeographical data are gradually revealing a clearer picture of passerine origins and evolution that reconciles molecular affinities, the constraints of morphology and the specifics of the fossil record. [4] It is now thought that the first passerines evolved in Gondwana at some time in the Paleogene , maybe around the Late Paleocene some 60–55 mya . [5] The initial split was between the Tyranni , the songbirds , the Eurylaimides and the New Zealand "wrens" , which must have diverged during a short period of time (some million years at most).

The Passeriformes apparently evolved out of a fairly close-knit clade of " near passerines " which contains such birds as the Piciformes and Coraciiformes . [6] A little later, a great radiation of forms took place out of Australia-New Guinea : the Passeri or songbirds. A major branch of the Passeri, "Parvorder Passerida ", emerged either as the sister group to the basal lineages and corvoids ("Parvorder Corvida "), or more likely as a subgroup of it, and expanded deep into Eurasia and Africa , where there was a further explosive radiation of new lineages. This eventually led to three major passeridan lineages comprising about 4,000 species, which in addition to the corvoidan clade and numerous minor lineages make up songbird diversity today. There has been extensive biogeographical mixing, with northern forms returning to the south, southern forms moving north, and so on. Fossil record Earliest passerines Perching bird osteology , especially of the limb bones, is rather diagnostic.

[7] However, the early fossil record is poor because the first Passeriformes were apparently on the small side of the present size range, and their delicate bones did not preserve well. QM specimens F20688 ( carpometacarpus ) and F24685 ( tibiotarsus ) from Murgon, Queensland are fossil bone fragments clearly recognizable as passeriform; they represent two species of approximately 10 and 20 cm in overall length and prove that some 55 mya, barely into the Early Eocene , early perching birds were recognizably distinct. [8] Male Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae). This very primitive songbird shows strong sexual dimorphism, with a peculiarly apomorphic display plumage in males. A quite similar group, the Zygodactylidae (named for their zygodactylous approach to perching) independently arose at much the same time – and possibly from closely related ancestors – in the landmasses bordering the North Atlantic , which at that time was only some two-thirds of its present width.

Until the discovery of the Australian fossils Palaeospiza bella from the Priabonian Florissant Fossil Beds ( Late Eocene , around 35 mya) was the oldest known passeriform. However, it is now considered a non-passeriform near passerine . From the Bathans Formation at the Manuherikia River in Otago , New Zealand , MNZ S42815 (a distal right tarsometatarsus of a Tui -sized bird) and several bones of at least one species of Saddleback -sized bird have recently been described. These date from the Early to Middle Miocene ( Awamoan to Lillburnian , 19-16 mya). [9] Modern knowledge about the living passerines' interrelationships (see the list of families below) suggests that the last common ancestor of all living Passeriformes was a small forest bird, probably with a stubby tail [10] and an overall drab coloration, but possibly with marked sexual dimorphism . The latter trait seems to have been lost and re-evolved multiple times in songbird evolution alone, judging from its distribution among the extant lineages.

Sexual dichromatism is very rare among the basal lineages of Passerida, and probably their plesiomorphic condition. But among the youngest passerid clade, the Passeroidea , extremely colorful males and drab females are common, if not the rule. On the other hand, among the basalmost Passeri there are a considerable number of strongly dimorphic lineages too, such as the very ancient Menuridae as well as many Meliphagoidea and Corvoidea . Sexual dimorphism is also not uncommon in the Acanthisittidae and prominent in some suboscines such as the Pipridae and Cotingidae . Early European passerines In Europe , perching birds are not too uncommon in the fossil record from the Oligocene onwards, but most are too fragmentary for a more definite placement: Wieslochia (Early Oligocene of Frauenweiler, Germany) Passeriformes gen. et sp. indet. (Early Oligocene of Luberon, France) – suboscine or basal [11] Passeriformes gen. et spp. indet.

(Late Oligocene of France) – several suboscine and oscine taxa [12] Passeriformes gen. et spp. indet. (Middle Miocene of France and Germany) – basal? [13] Passeriformes gen. et spp. indet. (Sajóvölgyi Middle Miocene of Mátraszõlõs, Hungary) – at least 2 taxa, possibly 3; at least one probably Oscines [14] Passeriformes gen. et sp. indet. (Middle Miocene of Felsõtárkány, Hungary) – oscine? [15] Passeriformes gen. et sp. indet. (Late Miocene of Polgárdi, Hungary) – Sylvioidea ( Sylviidae ? Cettiidae ?) [16] Wieslochia was possibly not a member of any extant suborder.

That not only the Passeri expanded much beyond their region of origin is proven by an undetermined broadbill (Eurylaimidae) from the Early Miocene (roughly 20 mya) of Wintershof , Germany, and the indeterminate Late Oligocene suboscine from France listed above. Even very basal Passeriformes might have been common in Europe until the Middle Miocene, some 12 mya. [17] Extant Passeri superfamilies were quite distinct by that time and are known since about 12–13 mya when modern genera were present in the corvoidean and basal songbirds. The modern diversity of Passerida genera is known mostly from the Late Miocene onwards and into the Pliocene (about 10–2 mya). Pleistocene and early Holocene lagerstätten (<1.8 mya) yield numerous extant species, and many yield almost nothing but extant species or their chronospecies and paleosubspecies. American fossils In the Americas , the fossil record is more scant before the Pleistocene, from which several still-existing suboscine families are documented.

Apart from the indeterminable MACN -SC-1411 (Pinturas Early/Middle Miocene of Santa Cruz Province, Argentina), [18] an extinct lineage of perching birds has been described from the Late Miocene of California, USA: the Palaeoscinidae with the single genus Paleoscinis . "Palaeostruthus" eurius (Pliocene of Florida) probably belongs to an extant family, most likely passeroidean . See also Late Quaternary prehistoric birds . Systematics and taxonomy Initially,[ citation needed ] the Corvida and Passerida were classified as " parvorders " in the suborder Passeri ; in accord with the usual taxonomic practice, they would probably be ranked as infraorders . As originally envisioned in the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy , they contained, respectively, the large superfamilies Corvoidea and Meliphagoidea as well as minor lineages, and the superfamilies Sylvioidea, Muscicapoidea and Passeroidea. File:Beardedtit46.jpg This arrangement has been found to be overly simplified by more recent research.

Since the mid 2000s, literally dozens of studies are being published which try rather successfully to resolve the phylogeny of the passeriform radiation . For example, the Corvida in the traditional sense were a rather arbitrary assemblage of early and/or minor lineages of passeriform birds of Old World origin, generally from the region of Australia , New Zealand , and Wallacea . The Passeri on the other hand can be made monophyletic by moving some families about, but the "clean" three-superfamily-arrangement has turned out to be far more complex and it is uncertain whether future authors will stick to it. Major " wastebin " families such as the Old World warblers and Old World babblers have turned out to be paraphyletic and are being rearranged. Several taxa turned out to represent highly distinct species-poor lineages and consequently new families had to be established, some of them – like the Stitchbird of New Zealand and the Eurasian Bearded Reedling – monotypic with only one living species. [19] It seems likely that in the Passeri alone, a number of minor lineages will eventually be recognized as distinct superfamilies.

For example, the kinglets constitute a single genus with less than 10 species today, but seem to have been among the first perching bird lineages to diverge as the group spread across Eurasia . No particularly close relatives of them have been found among comprehensive studies of the living Passeri, though it is suspected that they might be fairly close to some little-studied tropical Asian groups. Treatment of the nuthatches , wrens , and their closest relatives as a distinct superfamily Certhioidea is increasingly considered justified; the same might eventually apply to the tits and their closest relatives. This process is still continuing. Therefore, the arrangement as presented here is subject to change. However, it should take precedence over unreferenced conflicting treatments in family, genus and species articles here; see the next section for default sources. Taxonomic list of Passeriformes families PASSERINES | Pafos Zoo FACILITIES PASSERINES Macaws are native to Mexico, Central America,South America, and formerly the Caribbean. Most species are associated with forests, especially rainforests, but others prefer woodland or savannah-like habitats. Their large, dark (usually black) beaks, and relatively bare, light coloured, facial patch areas distinguish macaws.

A macaw’s facial feather pattern is as unique as a fingerprint. Some of the macaw species are known for their impressive size. The largest parrot in length and wingspan is the Hyacinth Macaw. The heaviest macaw is the Buffon’s. Here at Pafos Zoo we have over 11 different species of Macaw. During our daily show some of our cleverer parrots show you some of their amazing skills and abilities. BLACK THROATED LAUGHINGTHRUSH The Black throated Laughingthrush (Garrulax chinensis), Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ COMMON BLACKBIRD The Common Blackbird (Turdus merula), Is all black except for a yellow eye-ring and bill and has a rich melodious song. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ COMMON MYNAH The Common Mynah (Acridotheres tristis)is native to Asia and is readily identified by the brown body, black hooded head and the bare yellow patch behind the eye. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ COMMON STARLING The Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), it has a glossy black plumage which is speckled with white at some times of year.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ EURASIAN JAY The Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius), is a species of bird occurring over a vast region from Western Europe and north-west Africa _____________________________________________________________________________________________ EUROPEAN ROLLER The European Roller (Coracias garrulus) is the only member of the roller family of birds to breed in Europe. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ FISCHER’S STARLING The Fischer’s Starling, (Spreo fischeri), is found in dry open acacia thornbush in southern Ethiopia and Somalia _____________________________________________________________________________________________ JAVA SPARROW The Java Sparrow, (Padda oryzivora), is a resident breeding bird in Java, Bali and Bawean in Indonesia. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ PURPLE GLOSSY STARLING The Purple Starling (Lamprotornis purpureus), is a resident breeder in tropical Africa, this common passerine is typically found in open woodland and cultivation. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ RED WINGED LAUGHINGTHRUSH The Red-winged Laughingthrush (Garrulax formosus), its plumage is mostly brown with large areas of red in the wings and tail.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________ SONG THRUSH The Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) is a thrush that breeds across much of Eurasia. It has brown upperparts and black-spotted cream underparts _____________________________________________________________________________________________ SUPERB STARLING The Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus), It can commonly be found in East Africa. Adults have black heads and iridescent blue-to-green back _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ZEBRA FINCH Birds of Southeast Asia Birds of Southeast Asia There are an estimated 10,000 living species of bird, around one fifth of which occur in Southeast Asia. The greatest diversity occurs in lowland primary rainforest and coastal mangrove. Broadly, birds can be divided into passerines and non-passerines. Passerines, or perching birds (Order : Passeriformes) comprise around one half of all bird species. They are also known as 'songbirds' and are grouped together in a single order on the basis of the arrangement of toes and leg musculature. Non-passerines comprise birds from 28 other orders in existence today. Birds have undergone remarkable adaptive radiation, with many examples of convergent evolution i.e.

unrelated bird groups have evolved similar body form in response to the demands of adapting to specific ecological niches. For example, swifts and swallows are of similar body shape, but are quite unrelated. The casual observer need understand nothing of the complex evolutionary history of birds. Its simply enough to appreciate the stunning beauty and diversity of these creatures, particularly the brightly coloured kingfishers , barbets , trogons , woodpeckers , broadbills and majestic hornbills which inhabit the region's forests. Yeo Suay Hwee and Morten Strange helped identify some of the less common birds in these pages, and Shawn Lum and Tony O'Demspey helped with the trees and plants.

Question: What type of creatures are 'Passerines'?
Answer: PERCHING BIRDS