Background: Passerida is the largest avian radiation within the order Passeriformes. Current understanding of the high-level relationships within Passerida is based on DNA–DNA hybridizations; however, the phylogenetic relationships within this assemblage have been the subject of many debates.Methods: We analyzed the 12 S ribosomal RNA gene from 49 species of Passerida, representing 14 currently recognized families, to outline the phylogenetic relationships within this group.Results: Our results identified the monophyly of the three superfamilies in Passerida: Sylvioidea, Muscicapoidea and Passeroidea. However, current delimitation of some species is at variance with our phylogeny estimate. First, the Parus major, which had been placed as a distinct clade sister to Sylvioidea was identified as a member of the super family;second, the genus Regulus was united with the Sturnidae and nested in the Muscicapoidea clade instead of being a clade of Passerida.Conclusion: Our results were consistent with Johansson's study of the three superfamilies except for the al ocation of two families, Paridae and Regulidae.
Lina WuYanfeng SunJuyong LiYaqing LiYuefeng WuDongming Li
