霸鹟是雀形目霸鹟科（Tyrannidae）下的鸟类，主要生活在北美洲及南美洲的热带地区。牠们是地球上最大的科，约有400个物种。其下的物种在外形上、款式及颜色上有很大的不同。一些霸鹟外表上很像鹟科。霸鹟属于霸鹟亚目，没有鸣禽的复杂的发声能力。

大部份的霸鹟较为素色，很多都有直立的冠。牠们大部份是吃昆虫的，有些吃生果或细小的脊椎动物。最细小的霸鹟是短尾侏霸鹟及黑冠侏霸鹟。牠们只长约6.5-6.8厘米，重4-5克，是世界上最细小的雀形目。最大的霸鹟是大鵙霸鹟，长29厘米及重88克。其他物种如燕尾霸鹟及叉尾王霸鹟的总长度较长，但主要是因牠们有很长的尾巴。

The tyrant flycatchers (Tyrannidae) are a family of passerine birds which occur throughout North and South America. They are considered the largest family of birds, with more than 400 species. They are the most diverse avian family in every country in the Americas, except for the United States and Canada. As could be expected from a family this large, the members vary greatly in shape, patterns, size and colors. Some tyrant flycatchers superficially resemble the Old World flycatchers which they are named after but are not related to. They are members of suborder Tyranni (suboscines), which do not have the sophisticated vocal capabilities of most other songbirds.