There are two species in this family, the black sittella (Daphoenositta miranda) found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, and the varied sittella (Daphoenositta chrysoptera) found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.

The varied sittella has varied patterns of white, black, and gray, depending on where it is found. It lives in open woodlands.

It is a small bird and moves up and down tree trunks and across tree branches searching for insects. The varied sittella is sometimes called the Australian nuthatch.

The black sittella is found in the forests of New Guinea and Indonesia. It is mostly black with a red face. It also forages for insects along the trunks and branches of trees.