suboscine

American

[suhb-os-in, -ahyn] / sʌbˈɒs ɪn, -aɪn /

adjective

of or relating to birds of the suborder Suboscines, of the order Passeriformes, comprising the supposedly more primitive members of the order, with less well developed vocal organs than the oscine birds.

noun

a suboscine bird.

Etymology

Origin of suboscine

sub- + oscine

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Year-round resource defence and the evolution of male and female song in suboscine birds: social armaments are mutual ornaments.

From Scientific American • Jan. 5, 2012

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023