[2] They occur mainly in Central America from Panama to Mexico, with one species, the phainopepla, extending northwards into the southwestern US.

Most do not engage in long-distance migration (instead wandering widely in search of fruit), but the phainopepla is migratory over the northern part of its range.

[2] They are related to waxwings, and like that group have soft silky plumage, usually gray or pale yellow in color.

They range in size from 18 to 25 cm in length and are mostly slender birds (with the exception again of the black-and-yellow phainoptila).

All the species in this family are sexually dimorphic in both plumage color and tail length.