The phylogenetic position of some Philippine “babblers” spans the muscicapoid and sylvioid bird radiations

► We determine the affinities of three Philippine “babbler” genera using multi-locus datasets. ► Leonardina is most closely related to other montane endemics in insular Southeast Asia of the Muscicapidae. ► Robsonius is an early offshoot of the family Locustellidae. ► Micromacronus belongs to the Cisticolidae but more data is needed to better understand its position in the family.