Near passerine


"Near passerines" and "higher land-bird assemblage" are terms of traditional, pre-cladistic taxonomy that have often been given to tree-dwelling birds or those most often believed to be related to the true passerines owing to morphological and ecological similarities; the group corresponds to some extent with the Anomalogonatae of Alfred Henry Garrod.

Biology

All near passerines are land birds. However, molecular data does not support the traditional arrangement; it is now clear that "near passerines" and "higher landbirds" are not synonymous.
Per Ericson and colleagues, in analysing genomic DNA, revealed a lineage comprising Passeriformes, Psittaciformes and Falconiformes.

Orders

, Columbiformes, Cuculiformes, Caprimulgiformes, and Apodiformes are no longer recognized as near passerines. The true near-passerine families are the Psittaciformes, the Falconiformes, and the Cariamiformes. These three orders, together with the Passeriformes make up the Australaves. Sister to the Australaves are the Afroaves.