This group probably encompasses around 60% of all bird species. Named from the Latin for sparrow, often referred to as 'perching birds' and includes the 'song birds'. Note I seperate some groups of Passerines here, e.g. Corvids, and cover these separately. I've no idea why really, I just do, get over it!
One difficulty for someone trying to organise a website of pretty bird pictures is how to organise families that only have a few representative species in UK.
So, until I can get back to the good ol' USA, antipodes or even England (!), this is an 'odd' section of two groups, 'peckers and cuckoo. In Scotland, that's only one species each!
Robust, large, and very intelligent birds, just how intelligent may surprise many. Some Corvids are to solve puzzles, use, and even make tools, sure these aren't Makita drills, but they are cordless, and totally recyclable.