Most have predominantly brown plumage, with minimal difference between the sexes, but many more brightly coloured species also exist.

[1] Typical babblers live in communities of around a dozen birds, jointly defending a territory.

Many even breed communally, with a dominant pair building a nest, and the remainder helping to defend and rear their young.

Analysis of mtDNA cytochrome b and 12S/16S rRNA data (Cibois 2003a) spread the Timaliidae that were studied across what essentially was a badly resolved polytomy with Old World warblers and white-eyes.

As the typical warblers (genus Sylvia) grouped with some presumed timaliids (such as the fulvettas), it was suggested that some Sylviidae should be moved to the Timaliidae.