A passerine is a member of the order Passeriformes, which includes more than half of all bird species. The name “passerine” comes from the Latin word passer, meaning “sparrow”. This group contains five families: sparrows, finches, weavers, warblers, and Old World flycatchers.
The majority of passerines are small birds with relatively short legs and bills. They are found in nearly every habitat on Earth and are very adaptable to human-altered environments. Many species are able to live in close proximity to humans and have adapted well to living in urban areas.
The largest family in the order is the Old World flycatcher family (Muscicapidae), which includes about 4500 species in over 200 genera. Members of this family are found throughout the world except for Antarctica and most of South America. They range in size from the tiny rufous-tailed scrubbird (Atrichornis ruficaudata), which weighs only 9 grams (0.3 ounces), to the massive Eurasian bluebird (Sylvia atricapilla), which can weigh up to 140 grams (4.9 ounces).
Most members of this family are insectivorous, but a few – such as thrushes, robins, and chats – will also eat fruit or other items such as snails. Some Old World Flycatchers build nests that hang suspended from branches; others make cup-shaped nests out of grasses or twigs that they place on horizontal branches or in tree crevices; still others will use pre-existing cavities such as those made by woodpeckers.
The second largest family is the weaverbird family (Ploceidae) with about 150 species distributed across Africa south of the Sahara Desert; Madagascar; southern Asia including parts of China; Australasia including Indonesia east of Wallace’s line; and some Pacific islands including New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji. Weavers get their name from their elaborate woven nests which they build using plant fibers attached to horizontal branches near water sources such as lakes or rivers . Some species will also build their nests high up in trees away from ground predators . Both male and female weavers participate in building the nest although it is typically smaller and less intricate when built by a single pair . Nests can be so large that they may even encircle an entire tree branch . One particularly interesting weaver is the Sociable Weaver (Philetairus socius) which builds massive communal nests that may house hundreds or even thousands of individual birds . These mega-nests may be reused for generations and can reach lengths exceeding 10 meters (33 feet)!
inside each “compartment” created by these interconnected tunnels there is usually just enough space for a single adult bird plus its brood . When many compartments are present , however , multiple breeding pairs may occupy a single nest simultaneously . Interestingly , non – breeding members of a colony often help incubate eggs and care for young despite not having any offspring themselves ! The third largest family is composed of Finch like birds known as Fringillidae ; This Family contains approximately 60 Genera with 400 Species making it one fo The Most Diverse Bird Families ! Finches occur naturally throughout most Of Eurasia And In parts Of North And South America ; however several Species Have Been Introduced To New Zealand Australia And Hawaii ! Finches Are Primarily Seed Eaters But Will Also Consume Insects And Sometimes Fruit depending On Seasonality And Location ! One Well studied Group Of Finches Is The Darwin’s Finches Which Comprise 13 Closely Related Species Found On The Galapagos Islands ! These Birds Show Excellent Examples Adaptive Radiation With Each Species Evolving To Fill A Different Niche In Their Environment ! For example Geospiza magnirostris has A Large Beak Used To Crack Open Hard Seeds While Smaller Bertha Idella Uses Its Tiny Beak To Feed On Soft Insect Larvae! Another Interesting Fact About Fringillidae Is That Many Member Species Engage In Cooperative Breeding Where Non -Breeding Adults Help Raise Young That Are Not Their Own By Guarding Nest Sites Bringing Food Or Perching Nearby So Parents Can Take Breaks ! Finally The Last Family Of Passerines Is Warbler like Birds Called Sylviidae Consisting Mostly Of Small Insectivorous Songbirds Found Throughout Eurasia Africa And parts Of Oceania With Approximately 600 Named Species Making It Second Only To Muscipitidae In Terms fo Global Diversity Within The Order Passeriformes! Sylviids Typically Have Streaked Brownish plumage making Them Difficult To See When Perched Amidst Vegetation As They Search For Prey Items Such As Arthropods Or Occasionally Snakes Lizards Or Small Mammals Depending On Location And Size! Although Most Sylviids Nest Solitarily Female Dunnocks Prunella Modularis Actually Lay Their Eggs Inside Other Females Nests Who Then Incubate All Offspring As If They Were Her Own Regardless If She Lays Any Eggs Herself That season! Lastly White Wagtails Motacilla Alba Construct Nests Out Materials Such As Moss Spider Silk Plant Down Hair Twigs Grass Stems lichens paper string Cloth feathers Wool Fur animal dung & other Debris Which They Collect From Surrounding Area & then Secure Together Using saliva & Mud Before lining It With Fine Material Such As Feather down hair fur & plant down Now You Should Have A Good Understanding About Passerines In General But There Is Still Much More Left To Learn About These Fascinating Birds So Be Sure Check Out Additional Resources Mentioned Below For More Information!”