A passerine is a bird of the giant order Passeriformes. More than half of all species of bird are passerines. Sometimes known as perching birds or, less accurately, as songbirds, the passerines are one of the most spectacularly successful vertebrate orders: with around 5,400 species, they are roughly twice as diverse as the largest of the mammal orders, the Rodentia.
The group gets its name from the Latin name for the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus).

Mascarene Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone bourbonnensis) - Photo and taxonomy of this bird.
Meta Description: [ Endemic and extinct birds of Mauritius ]
Mauritius Bulbul (Hypsipetes olivaceus) - Photo and brief facts about this species.
Meta Description: [ Endemic and extinct birds of Mauritius ]
Phylogeny and Evolution of Passerine Birds - Research on the systematics and evolution of passerine birds, with links to related research publications.
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