Definition

Proper noun: * Family Bombycillidae: A taxonomic family of birds within the suborder Oscines (songbirds). This family is commonly known as the waxwings.

Usage

• The term "family Bombycillidae" is used in formal ornithological and scientific contexts to classify a specific group of passerine birds.
• It is typically used with a singular verb, as it refers to a single taxonomic unit.
• Example: "The family Bombycillidae contains only three extant species: the Bohemian, Cedar, and Japanese waxwings."

Examples

• "In the taxonomic hierarchy, the Cedar waxwing belongs to the family Bombycillidae."
• "Ornithologists study the migratory patterns of members of the family Bombycillidae."
• "The family Bombycillidae is characterized by soft, silky plumage and unique red, waxy tips on some wing feathers."

Advanced Usage

• In phylogenetic studies, the placement of family Bombycillidae within the songbird lineage is discussed.
• The name is often used in contrast to other bird families within the same order (Passeriformes).

Variants and Related Words

• Bombycillidae: The same term, often used without the word "family" in scientific lists or keys.
• Waxwing (n.): The common name for any bird species within the family Bombycillidae.
• Bombycilla (n.): The genus name for the true waxwings within this family.

Synonyms

• Waxwings: This is the common English name for the family.

Different Meanings

• The term "family" in a non-scientific context has a completely different meaning (a group of related people). In "family Bombycillidae," it refers exclusively to a level of biological classification.

Noun

1. a family of birds of the suborder Oscines