They are only distantly related to the European robin of Europe, north Africa and western Asia, a member of family Muscicapidae.

They occupy a wide range of wooded habitats, from subalpine to tropical rainforest, and mangrove swamps to semi-arid scrubland.

Hunting is mostly by perch and pounce, a favoured tactic being to cling sideways onto a treetrunk and scan the ground below without moving.

Many species are expert at adding moss, bark or lichen to the outside of the nest as camouflage, making it very difficult to spot, even when it is in a seemingly prominent location.

[7] The family contains 51 species divided into 19 genera and 6 subfamilies:[8][9] Eugerygone Petroica Amalocichla Pachycephalopsis Devioeca Kempiella Cryptomicroeca Microeca Monachella Drymodes Heteromyias Plesiodryas Poecilodryas Melanodryas Peneothello Gennaeodryas Eopsaltria Quoyornis Tregellasia