It consists of two species which inhabit Eastern and Southern Africa: They are typically about 32 cm (13 in) long omnivorous birds, eating insects, small millipedes and plant material.

Urocolius indicus in particular eats a great deal of fruit, leaves, buds, flowers, nectar and similar material.

paludicola are 3 taxa described from fragmentary Early Miocene remains found at Saint-Gérand-le-Puy in France.

Their taxonomic history is convoluted, being initially described as woodpeckers and variously merged and split.

The same rationales presumably apply for undescribed but similar remains found in Late Miocene strata at Kohfidisch (Austria).