What taxonomic rank do the Western Tanager and Song Sparrow share?
Answer
Order Passeriformes
The Western Tanager and the Song Sparrow (*Melospiza melodia*) belong to different families (*Cardinalidae* vs. *Passerellidae*) and different genera, meaning their last common ancestor is distant enough to place them in separate primary groupings below the Order level. However, both species are classified within the Order Passeriformes. This shared order signifies that both the tanager and the sparrow are classified as 'perching birds' and possess the characteristic foot structure—three toes forward, one back—that enables secure gripping of branches, linking them as relatives within the largest order of birds.
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