Philentoma is an enigmatic genus of passerines. They were included in the Muscicapidae (Old World flycatchers) when these were used as a "wastebin taxon" mainly for lack of a better idea, but have recently been recognized as part of a "shrike"-like group. They are now usually placed in the Tephrodornithidae with the woodshrikes, with some taxonomists alternatively placing them with the vangas.