扇尾鹟为雀形目鸣禽亚目的一类，现存40种左右。体长15－18厘米，以昆虫等小动物为食。分布于亚洲南部、东部以及大洋洲地区。扇尾鹟有时归为鹟科，有时单列为一科即扇尾鹟科（Rhipiduridae）。旧大陆的扇尾鹟亚科鸟类。原产于南亚到新西兰的森林空旷地、河岸和海滩，有几种变成驯养的花园鸟。24种，大多体色灰、黑、褐或棕色相间；通常有显着的白色区域，特别是在腹部、眼眉和尾上。

Fantails are small insectivorous birds of Australasia, Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent belonging to the genus Rhipidura in the family Rhipiduridae. Most of the species are about 15 to 18 cm long, specialist aerial feeders, and named as "fantails", but the Australian willie wagtail is a little larger, and, though still an expert hunter of insects on the wing, concentrates equally on terrestrial prey.