suboscine

[ suhb-os-in, -ahyn ]

adjective

1. 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

1. a suboscine bird.

Word History and Origins

Origin of suboscine¹

sub- + oscine

Example Sentences

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

From Scientific American