| Passeriformes comprises more than half of all living bird species. The origin and evolution of Passeriformes have been focused on for a long time. Former molecular phylogenetic studies mainly depend on mitochondrial DNA. Though better effects achieved, as a cytoplasmic genome the application of mitochondrial DNA is limited. So the combination of nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA has taken a major role in bird phylogenetic study.In this paper, we conducted the comparative study of the relationship among 38 passerines based on mitochondrial cytochrome b genes (Cytb) and nuclear adenylate kinase intron 5 (AK5) sequences. The results show that the divergence between Fringillids and Emberizids reachs a familial level and they should be listed into family Fringillidae and Emberizidae, respectively;the divergence between robins and flycatchers doesn't reach a familial level and they should be subject to family Muscicapidae;long-tailed parids and sylviids should all be listed into families;Sittidae, Aegithalidae, Paridae and crowtits have close relationships with Sylviidae;in the Sylviidae, although lanceolated warblers and scaly-headed stubtails have a relatively far relationship, they should be subject to one subfamily Acrocephalinae and warblers to Phylloscopinae;Fringillidae, Emberidae, Muscicapidae and Paridae are all monophylies, but Sylviidae isn't. Through the comparative study, we confirm the effectiveness of Cytb gene in resolving interspecific relationships. And AK5 works well in resolving close relationships, but poorly in far relationships among intrageneric groups. The substitution rates of major clades are thought to be the same according to relative rate tests. Divergence time of major clades is estimated at the rate of 1.6% per million years. Thus the estimated divergence time between Fringillidae and Emberizidae is 10.5 million years, robins and flycatchers 9.0 Myr, Acrocephalinae and Phylloscopinae 9.0 Myr, common redpoll and common rosefinch 7.5 Myr, two outgroups 13.5 Myr.
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