This family includes around 40 extant (living) species. They are found in parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, Southeast Asia, the Philippines, New Guinea, and Australia. The family also includes the figbirds.

These medium-sized birds are generally about 7–12 inches (18–30 cm) long. Many species are brightly colored in shades of yellow and green with black markings. In many species, females are duller in color than males.

Orioles have strong, slightly hooked bills, long, pointed wings, and medium to long tails. They live mainly in forests, open forests, and woodlands. Their diet includes insects, other arthropods such as spiders, fruit, berries, and nectar.

Although they share the same common name, the orioles in this family are not closely related to the orioles found in North and South America. New World orioles belong to a different bird family, Icteridae, which also includes blackbirds, grackles, cowbirds, and meadowlarks.