Songbirds, scientifically known as *Paseriformes*, are the most numerous and diverse order of birds, commonly referred to as birds, songbirds, or perching birds. Approximately half of all birds in the world belong to the songbird order, and they are widely distributed, inhabiting everything from tropical rainforests to arid deserts.
Classification of songbirds
The order Songbirds is divided into three suborders:
Passeri : Known for their well-developed syrinx and complex songs, they are commonly referred to as "singing birds".
Tyranni : Their songs have a relatively simple structure and they are mainly distributed in the Neotropical region.
Acanthisitti: Needle-tailed birds endemic to New Zealand.
Main characteristics of songbirds
They are usually small in size, with most being less than 30 centimeters in length, with some exceptions such as toucans and magpie-crows, which are larger.
It has a four-toed structure, with three toes pointing forward and one toe pointing backward, which is called "anisodactyl" and is conducive to branch-dwelling life.
The hind toes have a well-developed tendineae system, which allows them to grip branches tightly and not easily fall off when resting.
They do not have webbed toes and are highly capable of both flight and resting.
The tail feathers are usually 12, and the wings have 8-9 primary flight feathers.
Most songbirds can sing, and their well-developed syrinx muscle system supports complex vocalizations used for communication, courtship, and territorial assertion.
When breeding, they build nests with a variety of materials, such as twigs, soil, and feathers.
The eggs are colorful, and the chicks that hatch are featherless and blind, requiring careful care from their parents.
Typical examples of songbirds
Flame Bunting (Piranga flava) : The male is fiery red, and the female is yellow. It is distributed from the southwestern United States to South America, and is mostly found in open woodlands and savannas.
Red-crowned Bunting (Paroaria coronata) : Endemic to South America, with bright red crest feathers and a beautiful song, it is threatened by habitat fragmentation and illegal hunting.
Blue Dancer (Chiroxiphia caudata) : Endemic to eastern South America, the male has brightly colored plumage and the males in groups dance together to mate.
The short-tailed hook-billed bird (Myiornis ecaudatus) : the world's smallest songbird, only 6 centimeters long, whose song sounds like a frog or cricket.
Ravens (Corvus corax) : Widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, large in size, highly intelligent, and capable of using tools to solve problems.
Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) : A migratory bird with brown plumage; the male has a loud song.
European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) : With glossy black feathers, it can mimic environmental sounds and is listed as one of the world's 100 worst invasive species.
Golden Rosefinch (Sicalis flaveola) : Endemic to South America, the male is bright yellow, has a melodious song, and emits a sharp alarm when threatened.
For more information, please read our articles on "Bird Classification" and "Endangered Birds".
