雀形目 Passeriformes

雀形目 Passeriformes，來自拉丁文的 passer (麻雀) 和拉丁文的 -fōrmis (形狀)，說明這些動物是有麻雀形狀的及跟麻雀有關係。Passeriformes, from Latin passer (“sparrow”) and Latin -fōrmis (“-shaped”), in reference to the fact that these animals are all sparrow-shaped and sparrow-related.

種的俗名 Common names of members

麻雀、燕雀、渡鴉、烏鴉。

Passers, sparrows, finches, ravens and crows.

分佈 Distribution

幾乎所有大陸上，除了南極洲及大部分的大洋島嶼之外。

All continents except Antarctica and most oceanic islands.

體型 Size

體型範圍從6.5厘米長和4.2克重，到70厘米長和1.5公斤重。

They range in size from 6.5 cm in length and 4.2 g in weight up to 70 cm in length and 1.5 kg in weight.

形態 Morphology

牠們是鳥類和所有陸生脊椎動物中物種最豐富的目。通常體型較小，色彩鮮豔豐富，其棲息地和生態位置的多樣而有所不同。牠們的喙很短，腿上有獨特的棲息適應能力。當腿彎曲時，腿後部連結脛跗骨後面的肌肉和腳趾底部的肌腱喙自動拉近並收緊，導致鳥在肢體上著陸時腳部會捲曲和僵硬。這使得雀形目鳥類可以在棲息處打盹而防止滑落。不等趾型是指雀形目成員的腳是三個向前的腳趾和一個向後的腳趾。向後的腳趾，也叫大拇趾，在與前腳趾大約平行的點連結到腿。牠們的聲腔或鳴管有綜合體的肌肉，使牠們能夠唱歌。

The most species rich order among birds and of all terrestrial vertebrates, they are normally small and colorful, varying in relation to the habitat and ecological niche they occupy. They have a short beak and an unique adaptation on their legs for perching. When the leg bends, a tendon at the back of the leg that connects the muscle behind the tibiotarsus to the bottom of the toes will automatically pull and tighten, causing the foot to curl and stiffen when the bird lands on a limb. This allows passerines to snooze without sliding off their perch. Anisodactyl arrangement refers to a passerine's foot's three forward-pointing toes and one backward-pointing toe. The long rear toe, or hallux, connects to the leg at a point about parallel to the front toes. They have complex muscles in their voice box or syrinx allowing them to sing songs.

生態及棲息地 Ecology & Habitat

所有陸地環境。

All terrestrial environments.

食性 Diet

大部分都是肉食性動物，主要吃昆蟲，有些捕食魚類以及其他小型無脊椎動物。有些是雜食性動物，也會吃種子、水果、葉子及花蜜。

Most are carnivorous, feeding mostly on insects, some eat fishes and other small invertebrates. Some are omnivorous, feeding also on seeds, fruits, leaves and nectar.

繁殖 Reproduction

牠們的鳥巢有三種類型：開口杯形巢、洞巢和圓頂巢。築巢地點各不相同，例如地洞、樹木、岩石縫隙等等，材料會用泥土、草、毛和羽毛、樹皮、植物纖維等。一般來說，雌性是負責孵化卵，而雄性負責尋找食物及餵養雛鳥。

They have 3 types of nests: open cup-shaped nests, hole nest, and domed nest. Nest sites vary: holes in the ground, trees, rock crevices, etc., as the materials (mud, grasses, hair and feathers, bark strips, plant fibers, etc.) Generally, females are responsible for incubating the eggs, while males are responsible for finding food and feeding the young.