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Any passerine bird belonging to Sturnus and allied genera. The European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is dark brown or greenish black, with a metallic gloss, and spotted with yellowish white. It is a sociable bird, and builds about houses, old towers, etc. Called also stare, and starred. The pied starling of India is Ste…

A division of passerine birds including the humming birds, swifts, and goatsuckers. It is now generally considered an artificial group.

Any one of numerous species of passerine birds of the family Hirundinidæ, especially one of those species in which the tail is deeply forked. They have long, pointed wings, and are noted for the swiftness and gracefulness of their flight.

An artificial group of passerine birds having slender bills, as the humming birds.

A group of passerine birds having the syrinx at the lower end of the trachea.

r (Zoöl.), the yaffle. -- Wood swallow (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of Old World passerine birds belonging to the genus Artamus and allied genera of the family Artamidæ. They are common in the East Indies, Asia, and Australia. In form and habits they resemble swallows, but in structure they resemble shrikes. T…