Perching Birds
Author: Bruce Neville

Description:
The perching birds are the largest order of birds and considered to be the most advanced. Roughly half of all birds are perching birds . Passeriformes are different from other birds because they have a foot with three toes in front and one behind and other physical characteristics. They vary in size from tiny to quite large. They vary in color from brilliantly colorful to cryptic to black. The sexes may be alike or different in plumage and habits.

Geographic range:
Perching birds live on all continents except Antarctica and on most islands. Some species are migratory , while others stay within the same range throughout the year.

Habitat:
Members of the order Passeriformes have adapted to nearly every habitat , except for the open ocean. Many perching birds that migrate can be found far out at sea, but they are not really using the habitat .

Food Web:
They may be frugivorous, insectivorous, or carnivorous, or any combination.

Reproduction and Development:
Perching birds may be monogamous or polygamous. Most species build a nest of sticks or mud, though many build their nests in holes. The young of all species are born completely or nearly naked and helpless. Males may take part in raising the young or it may be left entirely to the female.

Behavior:
Perching birds exhibit a wide variety of behaviors, many of them are quite elaborate. They all use vocalizations as a way to communicate and to identify species of the perching birds .

Ecosystem roles:
Perching birds fill almost every role or job available to them. They can affect populations of plants and other animals.

Conservation:
Populations of perching bird species vary from enormous to tiny. Many species, including several in New Mexico, are threatened or endangered. In New Mexico 2 of 12 endangered birds are perching birds and 7 of 20 threatened birds and perching birds .

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Verterbrata
Class: Aves, Birds
Order: Passeriformes, Perching Birds

Of approximately 100 families within the order worldwide, the following families occur in New Mexico:

Tyrannidae: New World Flycatchers
Laniidae: Shrikes
Vireonidae: Vireos
Corvidae: Jays, Crows, Magpies, etc.
Alaudidae: Larks
Hirundinidae: Swallows and Martins
Paridae: Chickadees and Titmice
Remizidae: Verdin
Aegithalidae: Bushtit
Sittidae: Nuthatches
Certhiidae: Creepers
Troglodytidae: Wrens
Cinclidae: Dippers
Regulidae: Kinglets
Sylviidae: Gnatcatchers
Turdidae: Thrushes, Blue birds , Solitaires
Mimidae: Mocking birds , Thrashers, etc.
Sturnidae: Starlings
Motacillidae: Pipits and Wagtails
Bombycillidae: Waxwings
Ptilogonatidae: Phainopepla
Peucedramidae: Olive Warbler
Parulidae: Wood-Warblers
Thraupidae: Tanagers
Emberizidae: Sparrows, Towhees, Juncos, Longspurs, etc.
Cardinalidae: Cardinals, Grosbeaks, Buntings
Icteridae: Black birds , Grackles, Orioles, etc.
Fringillidae: Finches
Passeridae: Old World Sparrows

References:
Austin, Oliver L.; and Arthur Singer. 1961. Birds of the World. New York: Golden, 316 p.

Ehrlich, Paul R.; David S. Dobkin; Darryl Wheye. 1988. The Birder's Handbook: A Field Guide to the Natural History of North American Birds. New York: Simon & Schuster, 785 p.

Kaufman, Kenn. 1996. Lives of North American Birds. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 675 p.

National Geographic Society. 2002. Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 4th ed. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 480 p.

Sibley, David Allen. 2000. The Sibley Guide to Birds. New York: Knopf, 544 p.

Sibley, David Allen. 2001. The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior. New York: Knopf, 588 p.