adjective
- relating to or denoting birds that do not belong to the order Passeriformes
Usage: ornithology
noun
- a bird that does not belong to the order Passeriformes
Usage: ornithology
Examples
- Eagles, hawks, and owls are nonpasserine birds.
- The zoo’s nonpasserine collection includes flamingos and pelicans.
- Nonpasserine species typically have different foot structures than songbirds.
- The ornithologist studied both passerine and nonpasserine migration patterns.
- Woodpeckers are classified as nonpasserines despite their tree-dwelling habits.
- Many nonpasserine birds are larger than typical songbirds.