[pas-er-in, -uh-rahyn, -uh-reen] 
| 1. | of, belonging, or pertaining to the order Passeriformes, comprising more than half of all birds and typically having the feet adapted for perching. |
| 2. | oscine (def. 1). |
| 3. | any bird of the order Passeriformes. |
| pas·ser·ine (pās'ə-rīn') adj. Of or relating to birds of the order Passeriformes, which includes perching birds and songbirds such as the jays, blackbirds, finches, warblers, and sparrows. n. A bird of the order Passeriformes. [Latin passerīnus, of sparrows, from passer, sparrow.] |
| passerine (pās'ə-rīn') Pronunciation Key
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. |
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