[3] It has always been considered a monotypic genus, Sapayoa, and historically regarded as a New World suboscine; in particular, it was assigned to the manakin family (Pipridae).

However, the species was listed as incertae sedis (position uncertain) in the Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, because "preliminary DNA-DNA hybridization comparisons ... indicate that this species is either a relative of the Old World Eurylaimidae or a sister group of all other Tyrannida, as suggested by earlier biochemical studies ....

"[6]Accordingly, the sapayoa would be the last surviving New World species of a lineage that evolved in Australia-New Guinea when Gondwana was in the process of splitting apart.

The International Ornithological Committee (IOC) places it second among passerine families, between Acanthisittidae (the New Zealand wrens) and Philepittidae (the Asities).

[11][12] The sapayoa is found from the Panama Canal Zone south through western Colombia into extreme northwestern Ecuador.

[11] The sapayoa typically feeds by perching for long periods between sallies to catch insects on the wing or from foliage.

[11][13][12] The sapayoa's breeding season includes at least March to September in Panama and February to April in Colombia.

Its pear-shaped nest is made from long strips of bark and other fibers, some of which dangle beneath the structure, and has a side entrance near its bottom.