The white-browed robin was described by the naturalist John Gould in 1847; the genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek words poekilos 'spotted' and dryas 'dryad'.

[3][4] Sibley and Ahlquist's DNA-DNA hybridisation studies placed this group in a Corvida parvorder comprising many tropical and Australian passerines, including pardalotes, fairy-wrens, honeyeaters, and crows.

[7] It is endemic to Australia, where it is found from the Cape York Peninsula south to the Burdekin River in Queensland.

Spider webs, feathers, and fur are used for binding or filling, and the outside is decorated by lichen or bits of bark .

The eggs are cream to buff, and marked with brown splotches and spots, usually concentrated around the large end, and measure 20 by 15 mm.