Webster's English Dictionary

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passerine

pas.ser.ine \'pas-*-.ri-n\ aj [L passerinus of sparrows, fr. passer 
   sparrow] 1: of or relating to the largest order (Passeriformes) of birds 
   including  more than half of all living birds and consisting chiefly of 
   altricial songbirds of perching habits 2: of or relating to a suborder 
   (Passeres) of passerine birds comprising t he true songbirds with 
   specialized vocal apparatus - passerine n