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suboscine
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus).
Suboscine
bird
Suboscine, in general, any bird of the suborder Tyranni of the order Passeriformes (perching birds, or passerines) as distinguished from an oscine, or songbird, a member of the suborder Passeri. The term suboscine implies, perhaps rightly, that birds of this group are more primitive in anatomy and behaviour than the oscines, which are usually considered the most highly specialized of birds.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Richard Pallardy.
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