Scan-sō'rēz, n. pl.

n. pl. [N. Lat., from scandere, scansum, to climb.] (Or-nith.) An order of birds whose toes are in pairs, two before and two behind, by which they are enabled to cling to and climb upon trees, as the woodpeckers and parrots. Not all of this order are actually climbers; and there are climbing birds that do not belong to this order.