The genus Peltops was introduced by the German zoologist Johann Georg Wagler in 1829.

[7][8] The genus contains two species:[9] Peltops are smaller than the butcherbirds, and have a less massive but still large bill.

The hooked bill is the same size in both species, making it proportionally larger in the lowland peltops.

Within the forest they are particularly common at forest openings and edges, tree falls, river edges, and other disturbed areas including human modified openings like roads and gardens.

In undisturbed virgin forest they may use massive trees emerging from and above the canopy.