It was named to honor J. F. Wyley, who found the specimen in Weald Clay deposits of Henfield in Sussex (England).

The bone was found in the Hastings Beds, a series of Valanginian deposits,[1] dated to between 140 and 136 million years ago.

[2] Formerly believed to be from a non-avialan coelurosaur, it is now generally accepted as an early bird, although its exact systematic position is unresolved.

"[3] Wyleyia may have lived in dense forests in trees where females would make their nests and raise their eggs; where many food sources like insects and fruit such as berries are available.

[citation needed] Wyleyia may have been around the same size as the common sparrow, with males being larger than most female specimens.