Have you ever wondered why a group of crows is called a “murder” or a group of owls is called a “parliament”? It’s a fascinating look into the language we use to describe the animal kingdom, and it’s much more interesting than just calling them a bunch of animals! As an outdoor enthusiast and educator, I’m always fascinated by the way we categorize and name different animals.
These collective nouns, or “terms of venery” as they’re formally called, are often steeped in history and tradition. Some are based on the animals’ behavior, while others are rooted in folklore and superstition. In this article, we’ll explore the quirky and sometimes humorous names we use to describe groups of animals, and maybe even learn a bit about their behavior along the way.
The Curious Case of Collective Nouns for Animals
You might know that a group of deer is called a herd, or that a group of birds is called a flock, but what about a group of rhinoceroses? How about porcupines? Do they have collective nouns too? Absolutely!
Collective nouns are a fun way to add a bit of whimsy to our language, but they also serve a practical purpose. They help us to identify and describe groups of animals in a more precise way. Instead of saying “a group of sheep,” we can say “a flock of sheep,” which conveys a specific image in our minds.
A Glossary of Animal Group Names: From A to Z
Get ready to discover a wild world of collective nouns! Here is a comprehensive list of animal group names:
A
* Antelope: a herd
* Ants: a colony or an army
* Apes: a shrewdness
* Axolotls: an axle (Hey, gotta keep up with the times!)
B
* Baboons: a troop
* Badgers: a cete
* Bass: a shoal
* Bats: a colony, cloud or cauldron
* Bears: a sloth or sleuth; Cubs: a litter
* Beavers: a colony
* Bees: a swarm
* Boar: a sounder
* Buffalo: a gang or obstinacy
C
* Camels: a caravan
* Caterpillars: an army
* Cats: a clowder, glaring, pounce, nuisance or clutter; Kittens: a litter or kindle; Wild cats: a destruction
* Cattle: a herd or drove
* Cheetahs: a coalition
* Chickens: a brood or peep; Chicks: a clutch or chattering
* Clams: a bed
* Cobras: a quiver
* Colts: a rag
* Cows: a kine, drove, herd or fold; twelve or more cows are a flink
* Coyotes: a band
* Cranes: a sedge
* Crocodiles: a float or bask
* Crows: a murder (They can be a bit mischievous, can’t they?)
D
* Deer: a herd
* Dogs: a pack or cowardice; Puppies: a litter
* Dolphins: a pod
* Donkeys: a drove
* Doves: a dule
* Ducks: a brace, paddling or team
E
* Eagles: a convocation
* Elephants: a herd or parade
* Elk: a gang or herd
* Emus: a mob
F
* Falcons: a cast
* Ferrets: a business or fesnyng
* Finches: a charm
* Fish: a school, shoal, run, haul or catch
* Flamingos: a stand or flamboyance
* Flies: a swarm, hatch or business
* Foxes: a skulk or leash
G
* Frogs: an army or a colony
* Geese: a gaggle or flock, a skein when in flight
* Giraffes: a tower
* Gnats: a cloud or horde
* Goats: a herd, tribe or trip
* Goldfinches: a charm
* Goldfish: a troubling
* Gorillas: a band
* Grasshoppers: a cloud
* Greyhounds: a leach
* Grouse: a pack or covey
H
* Hares: a down or husk
* Hawks: a cast or kettle
* Hippopotami: a bloat or thunder
* Hogs: a drift or parcel
* Horses: a team or harras
* Hounds: a pack, mute or cry
* Hyenas: a cackle
I
* Iguanas: a mess (Maybe because they can be a bit messy eaters!)
J
* Jaguars: a shadow
* Jellyfish: a smack or brood
* Jays: a scold
K
* Kangaroos: a troop or mob
* Kestrels: an eyrie
L
* Larks: an ascension or exaltation
* Lemurs: a conspiracy
* Leopards: a leap
* Lice: a flock
* Lions: a pride
* Locusts: a plague or cloud
* Lizards: a bask (They love to soak up the sun!)
M
* Magpies: a tiding or tittering
* Mallards: a sord
* Manatees: an aggregation
* Mares: a stud
* Martens: a richness
* Minnows: a steam
* Moles: a labor
* Monkeys: a barrel, cartload or troop
* Moths: a motherload (You can’t have too many moths, right?)
* Mules: a pack, barren or span
N
* Nightingales: a watch
O
* Otters: a family, romp or raft
* Owls: a parliament (They are wise creatures, aren’t they?)
* Oxen: a team or yoke
* Oysters: a bed
P
* Parrots: a pandemonium or company
* Partridges: a covey
* Peacocks: a muster or ostentation
* Penguins: a colony
* Pheasants: a nest, nide or bouquet
* Pigeons: a flock or flights
* Pigs: a drift or drove (younger pigs), or a sounder, litter or team (older pigs)
* Ponies: a string
* Porcupines: a prickle
Q
* Quail: a bevy or covey
R
* Rabbits: a colony or warren
* Raccoons: a gaze
* Rats: a colony, pack, swarm or mischief
* Rattlesnakes: a rhumba
* Ravens: an unkindness
* Rhinoceroses: a crash
S
* Sharks: a shiver
* Sheep: a drove or flock
* Skunks: a stench
* Snakes: a nest or knot
* Sparrows: a host
* Squirrels: a dray or scurry
* Starlings: a murmuration
* Stingrays: a fever
* Storks: a mustering
* Swans: a bevy or lamentation, a wedge when in flight
T
* Tigers: an ambush or a streak
* Toads: a knot or knab
* Trout: a hover
* Turkeys: a gang, posse or rafter
* Turtles: a bale or nest
V
* Vultures: a venue
W
* Wasps: a pledge
* Weasels: a colony, gang or pack
* Whales: a pod, school or gam
* Wolves: a pack or route
* Wombats: a wisdom
* Woodpeckers: a descent
X
* Xenopus (African Clawed Frog): a bucket (They can be a bit slippery!)
Y
* Yak: a herd
Z
* Zebras: a zeal
A Few Fun Facts:
- Some collective nouns, like “murder of crows” or “parliament of owls,” are based on the animals’ perceived behavior or intelligence. Crows can be quite cunning and social, and owls are known for their wisdom.
- The term “term of venery” actually has a medieval origin, with some of the earliest known terms dating back to the 14th century.
- Many of these terms are still in use today, though some are becoming less common. However, they continue to add a touch of whimsy to our everyday language and connect us to the natural world.
Your Turn to Create:
Do you have an idea for a group of animals not listed above? An “axle of axolotls” or a “motherload of moths” perhaps? Share your ideas in the comments below and let’s expand the collective noun lexicon together!
Keep Exploring the World of Animals:
For more fascinating information about the animal kingdom, check out the website of the National Wildlife Federation, the Audubon Society, or your local wildlife refuge. You can also find a wealth of information about animals in libraries and bookstores.
Learning about the animal world and the ways we describe it can deepen our appreciation for nature and the diversity of life on Earth. So, the next time you see a group of animals, don’t just call them a bunch of critters – try using a collective noun to describe them. You might surprise yourself with how much you already know about the fascinating world of animals!
