Near passerine (1 Viewer)

[crs]

Could anyone be so kind to explain, as for a non specialist, what a "near passerine" bird means?

Thank you,
Cristian

 

[Kratter]

In the "traditional" taxonomic sequence (e.g., in most field guides), the near passerines were those taxa that were near (closely related) to the passerines, namely the Doves through Woodpeckers, but especially the Coraciiformes and Piciformes. Now that it is settled that falcons and parrots (and maybe seriemas) are the sister group to passerines, the term is rather useless.
Andy

 

[crs]

Thank you "Kratter" for the answer.

I found the term "near passerine" reffering to the european bee-eater. What would "near passerine" define regarding the european bee-eaters?
Why this group of bird has been coled "NEAR passerine" and not with a completly other term.
Are this birds (european bee-eaters) related to the passerine? Have these birds different characteristics than passerine?

Cristian

 

[Richard Klim]

As Andy has said, "near passerine" is just an informal term sometimes used when referring to the non-passerine families immediately preceding the passerines in a traditional (but now obsolete) taxonomic sequence.

Many of these families, including Meropidae (bee-eaters), are superficially similar to passerines.

 

[crs]

Thank you all for the answers.

Cristian