Scalabids

Scalabids are a proposed informal taxonomic group within the order Passeriformes, specifically referring to a diverse assemblage of perching birds that were historically grouped together based on a perceived similarity in their beak morphology. The term "scalabid" is not a formally recognized taxonomic rank by ornithological authorities and is more of a historical or descriptive term used by some researchers to discuss a particular suite of birds exhibiting adaptations for probing or scaly-looking beaks. This grouping often encompassed families such as the furnariids (ovenbirds) and the dendrocolaptids (woodcreepers), both of which are now well-established families within the suborder Passeri.

The concept of "scalabids" arose from observations of birds with elongated, often decurved or straight, and sometimes stout beaks, which they use for foraging in crevices, bark, or dense vegetation. These foraging strategies can involve probing for insects, seeds, or other small invertebrates. The term itself suggests a connection to scales, potentially referring to the texture of the beak or the way the birds appear to "scale" tree trunks or other surfaces in their search for food. However, modern molecular phylogenetic studies have revealed that the evolutionary relationships among these birds are more complex than initially suggested by beak morphology alone. While some historical "scalabid" groups share common ancestry, others have been placed in different evolutionary lineages, underscoring the limitations of relying solely on external characteristics for classification.