There are eight species in this family. They are all found in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert.

The birds in this family are 8-15 inches in length and have long, pointed, curved bills; short, rounded wings; and very long tails. Most species are a shiny green to purplish-black. They have red or black bills and red or black legs.

Woodhoopoes and scimitarbills live in open woodlands and make their nests in holes in trees.

When they are on the ground, they hop from place to place instead of walking. They use their long bills to probe for insects in tree bark.

Scimitarbills have bills that are more curved than woodhoopoes. (A scimitar is a curved sword.)

Scimitarbills are sometimes called scimitar-billed hoopoes.