Term often used for birds 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 quality of song varies greatly among the 'songbirds' but the order certainly includes the best musicians. They are all landbirds.

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