There are seven species of birds in this family. They are found in the forests of Australia and New Guinea.

Australian treecreepers are 5-7 inches in length and are grayish-brown to black on their upper sides and streaked on their underparts. They have a lighter stripe over their eyes. They have short legs, long toes, a rounded tail, and a long, slightly curved bill. Males and females look alike.

Australian treecreepers hunt for insects under the bark of eucalyptus and other trees. They creep up the trunk of the tree in a spiral, probing for insects as they climb. Some species forage for insects on the ground.