Portions of mitochondrially encoded 12S and 16S rRNA genes were sequenced from 15 Oscine Passerine families in order to infer preliminary interfamilial relationships among the oscines. Our results, derived from combined sequences (881 base positions), suggest that the Oscines are comprised of at least three distinct lineages. Our results do not support the phylogenetic hypothesis based on DNA-DNA hybridization data. Furthermore, our data on inter-familial relationships, for example the wide separation of the Paridae and Sittidae, also contradict the previous relevant hypotheses based on morphology.