SUMMARYSIBLEY, C. G. and J. E. AHLQUIST. 1982. The relationships of the Australo-Papuan sittellasDaphoenosittaas indicated by DNA-DNA hybridization. Emu 82: 173–176.The taxonomic relationships ofDaphoenosittawere examined by comparing the single-copy DNA sequences of radio-iodine (1251) labelled DNA of the Varied SittellaD. chrysopterawith the DNAs of thirty-eight other species, representing thirty-five genera, of oscine passerine birds (Passeres). Of the taxa examined,Daphoenosittawas found to be most closely related toPachycephala, Pitohui, Colluricincla, Monarcha, and other members of a large, primarily Australo-Papuan, assemblage which also includes such morphologically diverse taxa as the birds of paradise, crows, drongos, quail-thrushes, cuckoo-shrikes, fantails, scrub-robinsDrymodes, lyrebirds, scrub-birds, and bower-birds. There is no convincing evidence that the sittellas are closely related to the nuthatchesSitta, the Holarctic creepersCerthia, the Philippine creepersRhabdornis, the Afro-Asian creeperSalpornis, the Australo-Papuan tree creepersClimacteris, the Eurasian WallcreeperTichodroma, or the Coral-billed NuthatchHyposittaof Madagascar.Some Australo-Papuan taxa that are members of a separate major assemblage areMalurus, Sericomis, Acanthiza, the honeyeaters Meliphagidae, and the Australian chatsEphthianura.