They have a more restricted distribution than Dicaeum, occurring in the Philippines, Borneo, Sumatra, Java and the Malay Peninsula.

The name Prionochilus is derived from the Greek prion for saw, and kheilos for lip, referring to the minute serrations along the edge of the bill.

Four of the six species exhibit sexual dimorphism with regards to plumage, with the males in these cases being more brightly coloured.

[2] Like all members of the family the fruits, nectar and pollen of mistletoe (Loranthaceae) are important to the Prionochilus flowerpeckers.

Information about the diet (and many other aspects of the biology of this genus and indeed family) is patchy and more research is needed.