Passerida are one of four parvorders contained within the infraorder Passerides.

Characteristics

Passerida are omnivorous birds found in East Africa and the Palearctic realm. They live in open areas with minimal trees such as Saharas and forest clearings. They are stocky birds between 12cm (4.7 inches) and 18cm (7.1 inches). The head and neck are a blackish-gray, and they have a very short beak.

Systematics and phylogeny

Mostly smallish herbivores, near-global distribution centered on Palearctic and Americas. Often pronounced sexual dimorphism with males among the most colorful birds alive. Songs tend to be fairly simple warbling and chirping, with many species relying as much or more on visual mating displays. Includes the nine-primaried oscines (probably a subclade). The basal radiation is mostly found in the Old World, with only Motacillidae naturally occurring in the Americas and Estrildidae in Australia.

Passerida contains the following families:

See also