Term often used for the suborder Oscines of the order Passeriformes or 'perching birds', which includes more than half of all bird species (perching is the act of standing on a small branch or similar object by gripping the 'perch', often a roost place, with the toes). All Passeriformes have a characteristic foot with always four toes joined at the same level (three directing forward, one backward) adapted to perching. The Oscines were originally separated from the rest of the perching birds on the basis of the number and complexity of attachment of the syringeal muscles (the syrinx is the vocal organ). The quality of song varies greatly among the 'songbirds' but the order certainly includes the best musicians. They are all landbirds.

Alternative forms for songbirds : Oscines, Passeriformes, perch, perched, perching, songbird.