Definition

Noun: A bird that is not a passerine; specifically, a bird belonging to any of the many orders of birds that are not classified within the order Passeriformes. These birds often have different anatomical features (such as toe arrangement and vocal organ structure) compared to passerines (songbirds/perching birds). The term is a broad biological classification.

Usage

The term "nonpasserine bird" is used in ornithology and scientific contexts to categorize birds taxonomically by what they are not (not a passerine). It describes a collective characteristic rather than a specific trait. - The zoo's aviary features a diverse collection of nonpasserine birds, including parrots, hawks, and flamingos. - In the study, the vocal learning capabilities of nonpasserine birds were compared to those of songbirds.

Advanced Usage

• The term is primarily used in technical, comparative, or educational settings to contrast with the large and familiar group of passerines.
• It functions as an umbrella term encompassing many different orders (e.g., Psittaciformes [parrots], Falconiformes [hawks and eagles], Strigiformes [owls], Anseriformes [ducks and geese]).

Variants and Related Words

• Nonpasserine (adjective): Describing a bird or characteristic of such birds.
  • The nonpasserine orders exhibit great diversity in size and habitat.
• Passerine (noun/adjective): A bird of the order Passeriformes, such as a sparrow, crow, or finch; perching bird/songbird.

Synonyms

• Non-perching bird (less common, descriptive synonym)
• Non-songbird (descriptive, but not all passerines are songbirds and vice versa)

Notes on Meaning

The definition "chiefly arboreal birds especially of the order Coraciiformes" from the provided context is a specific, narrower application. In broader modern ornithological usage, "nonpasserine" includes all non-passerine birds, whether arboreal (tree-dwelling) like parrots, terrestrial (ground-dwelling) like chickens, or aquatic like penguins. The order Coraciiformes (kingfishers, bee-eaters, rollers) is just one example of a nonpasserine order.

Noun

1. chiefly arboreal birds especially of the order Coraciiformes