animal group names

Animal Group Names (Collective Nouns)

Animal Group Name

Albatross Rookery

Antelopes Herd, cluster, herd

Ants Nest, army, colony, state, swarm, bike

Apes Shrewdness, troop

Asses Pace, drove, herd, coffle

Auks Colony, flock, raft

Baboons Troop, flange

Badgers Cete, colony, set, company

Bats Colony, cloud

Bears Sloth, sleuth, slought

Beavers Family, lodge, colony

Bees Swarm, cluster, nest, hive, erst, bike, cast, college, drift, game, fry, peck, rabble, stand, range,

butt, spindle, grist

Birds Battery, cast, congregation, covert, covey, drift, flight, fleet, flock, flush, nest, aviary

Bison Herd

Bitterns Flock, sedge, siege

Bloodhounds Sute

Boars Sounder, singular, herd

Buffaloes Troop, herd, gang, obstinacy

Bullfinches Bellowing

Bullocks Drove

Butterflies Rabble, flight

Camels Flock, train, caravan, herd

Caribou Herd

Caterpillars Army, nest

Cats Clowder, clutter, cluster, colony, glorying, kindle, litter, dout, parliament, seraglio, glaring,

destruction (wild cats)

Cattle Drove, herd, bow, bunch, draft, drift, flote, head, diary

Chicken Brood, clutch, hatching, nest, parcel, peep, battery, flock

Chinchilla Colony

Clams Bed

Cockroaches Intrusion

Cod Lap

Colts Rake, rage

Cormorants Colony, flight

Cows Dairy, drove, pack, team

Crabs Cast

Cranes Flock, herd, sedge, siege, sege

Crocodiles Bask, nest

Crows Murder, parcel, hover

Deer Herd, leash, bevy, game, quarry, bunch, mob

Dogs Gang, legion, kennel, pack, stud

Dolphins Team, school

Doves Duet, dule, dole, flight, troop, pitying (of turtle doves)

Ducks Bunch, brood, knob, raft, skein, string, mob, paddling, plump, sord, sore, team, waddling

Eagles Aerie, brood, convocation, cargo

Eels Swarm, bed, bind, draft, fry, wisp

Elephants Herd, flock, parade

Elks Gang, herd

Ferrets Business

Finches Chirm, charm

Fish School, shoal, haul, draught, run, catch, cran, flote, flutter, cast, throw, warp

Flies Business, hatch, grist, swarm, community, fare, rabble, cloud

Flamingoes Stand

Foxes Cloud, skulk, brace, leash, troop, earth

Frogs Army, colony, froggery

Geese Gaggle, clutch, flock, line, skein, nide, wedge

Giraffes Herd, corps, troop, tower

Gnats Swarm, cloud, horde, plague, rabble

Goats Flock, trip, herd, tribe

Goldfish Troubling

Gorillas Band

Grasshopper

s

Cloud

Hares Down, flick, huske, kindle, tripp, drove, warren, dun

Hawks Aerie, brood, cast, leash, mews, staff

Hedgehogs Nest, array

Hens Battery, brood, parcel, roost, mews, concatenation

Hippopotami Bloat, school, pod, herd

Hornets Nest, bike, swarm

Horses Haras, stud, herd, string, field, set, team, stable, mews, mob, parcel, rag, slate

Insects Horde, nest, swarm, rabble, plague

Jackrabbits Husk

Jellyfish Smuck, fluther, smack, stuck, smuth, brood

Kangaroos Troop, mob, herd

Larks Bevy, exaltation, flight, wisp

Leopards Leap

Lice Flock

Lions Pride, troop, flock, sawt, souse

Locusts Swarm, cloud, plague

Magpies Tiding, tittering

Mallard Flush, lute, puddling, sord, sute

Mice Nest, colony, harvest

Midges Bite

Minnows Shoal, steam, or swarm

Moles Company, labour, citadel (of mole burrows)

Monkeys Troop, cartload, tribe

Moose Herd

Mosquitoes Scourge

Mules Barren, span, mulada, rake

Nightingales Watch, flock, route

Otters Bevy, lodge, family

Owls Parliament, stare

Oxen Team, yoke, drove, or herd

Oysters Bed, cast, clam, hive, set

Parrots Company, flock, pandemonium

Peacocks Pride, muster, ostentation

Pekingese Pomp

Penguins Parcel, rookery

Pigeons Flight, flock, loft

Pigs Drove, fare, litter, flock, hoggery, sounder, nest of trotters

Porpoises School, crowd, herd, shoal, gam, pod, turmoil

Quail Bevy, covey, jug

Rabbits Bevy, bury (of conies), flick, kindle, nest, game, warren, colony

Racoons Nursery

Ravens Unkindness

Reindeer Herd

Rhinoceros Crash, stubbornness, herd

Rooks Building, clamour, congregation, council, pack, shoal, wing

Salmon Run, bind

Sardines Family

Scorpions Bed, nest

Seals Pod, herd, trip, rookery, flock, plump, harem

Sharks School or shoal

Sheep Flock, hirsel, drove trip, drift, fold, hurtle, parcel, mob, down, pack

Snails Escargatoire, rout, walk

Snakes Bed, knot, den, pit

Spiders Cluster, clutter

Squirrels Drey, colony

Starlings Cloud, chattering, murmuration, clattering

Stoats Pack, trip

Storks Flight, mustering, phalanx

Swallows Flight, gulp, rush

Swans Flock, bevy, bank, eyrar, drift, game, herd, sownder, team, wedge

Swine Sounder, drift, herd, trip, drone, singular (of boars)

Tigers Ambush

Toads Knot, nest, knob

Trout Hover, leash, troup

Turkeys Duet, crop, posse, rafter, gang

Turtles Bale, dole, turn, dule

Vipers nest

Vultures Carpets, cast, drove, flock, herd

Walruses Pod, herd, huddle

Wasps Nest, knot, knab, bike, swarm

Weasels Pack

Whales School, gam, mob, pod, herd, plump, run, flote, shoal

Wildfowl Lute, plump, scry, skein, sord, trip

Wolves Rout, route, pack, head, horde

Woodpeckers Descent

Worms Bed, clew, bunch, clat

Zebras Herd, zeal, cohorts

1. shrewdness of apes2. army/column/state/swarm of ants3. herd/pace of asses4. troop of baboons

5. cete/colony of badgers6. sloth of bears7. cluster/swarm/drift/hive/erst of bees8. flock/flight/pod of birds9. chatter of budgerigars10. herd/gang/obstinancy of buffalo11. bellowing of bullfinches12. drove of bullocks13. caravan/flock of camels14. army of caterpillars15. chowder/clowder/cluster/glaring of cats16. herd/drove of cattle17. brood/clutch/peep of chickens18. chattering of choughs19. rag/rake of colts20. covert of coots21. herd of cranes22. bask of crocodiles23. clan/hover/murder of crows24. litter of cubs25. herd of curlew26. herd/mob of deer27. cowardice/pack/kennel of dogs28. pod/school of dolphins29. trip of dotterel30. flight/dole/piteousness/prettying of doves31. paddling of ducks (on water)32. safe of ducks (on land)33. fling of dunlins34. convocation of eagles35. swarm of eels36. herd/parade of elephants37. herd/gang of elk38. cast of falcons39. busyness/cast/fesynes of ferrets40. charm of finches41. shoal/run of fish42. flurry/regiment/skein of flamingoes43. business/cloud/scraw/swarm of flies44. earth/lead/skulk of foxes45. gaggle of geese (on land)46. skein/team/wedge of geese (in flight)47. corps/herd/troop/kalaedescope of giraffes48. cloud of gnats49. flock/herd/trip of goats50. charm/chattering/chirp/drum of goldfinch51. troubling of goldfish52. band of gorillas53. cloud of grasshoppers54. brace/leash/pack of greyhounds55. brood/pack/covey of grouse56. down/drove/husk/lie/trip/mute/husk of hares57. cast of hawks58. array of hedgehogs59. scattering/sedge/siege of herons60. army/gleam/shoal of herring61. bloat/pod of hippopotami62. drove/string/stud/team of horses63. pack/cry/kennel of hounds64. crowd of ibis65. flight/swarm of insects66. brood/fluther/smuck of jellyfish

67. herd/mob/troop of kangaroos68. kindle/litter of kittens69. deceit/desert of lapwings70. bevy/exaltation of larks71. leap/lepe of leopards72. flock/pride/sawt/souse/troop of lions73. tiding/tittering of magpies74. sord/suit of mallard75. stud of mares76. richesse of martens77. nest of mice78. company/labour/movement/mumble of moles79. troop of monkeys80. cartload/pack/span/barren of mules81. match/puddling/watch of nightingales82. flock of ostrich83. bevy/family of otters84. parliament/stare of owls85. yoke of oxen86. pandemonium of parrots87. covey of partridges88. muster of peacocks89. muster/parcel/rookery of penguins90. brook/bevy/head/ostentation/pride/nye of pheasants91. kit of pigeons (in flight)92. farrow of piglets93. litter/herd of pigs94. congregation/flight/stand/wing of plovers95. rush/flight of pochards96. pod/school/herd/turmoil of porpoises97. covey of ptarmigan98. litter of pups99. bevy/covey/drift of quail100. bury/colony/nest/warren of rabbits101. nursery of raccoons102. string of racehorses103. colony of rats104. unkindness of ravens105. crash of rhinoceros106. bevy of roe deer107. parliament/building/clamour/rookery of rooks108. hill of ruffs109. family of sardines110. pod/harem/herd/rookery of seals111. flock/herd/trip/mob of sheep112. dopping of sheldrake113. den/pit/nest of snakes114. walk/wisp/whisper/wish of snipe115. host/surration/quarrel of sparrows116. cluster/clutter of spiders117. drey of squirrels118. chattering/crowd/murmation of starlings119. flight of swallows120. bank/bevy/game/herd/squadron, teeme/wedge/whiteness of swans (on land)121. drift/herd/sounder of swine122. spring of teal123. mutation of thrush124. ambush of tigers125. knab/knot of toads126. hover of trout127. dule/raffle/rafter of turkeys128. bale/turn of turtles

129. herd/nest/pledge of wasps130. bunch/knob of waterfowl131. colony/school/herd/pod/gam of whales132. company/trip of wigeon133. sounder of wild boar134. dout/destruction of wild cats135. team of wild ducks (in flight)136. bunch/trip/plump/knob of wildfowl137. pack/rout of wolves138. covey/fall/flight/plump of woodcock139. descent of woodpeckers140. herd of wrens141. zeal of zebras

ANIMAL/SPECIES TERMANTELOPES A HERD of antelopes.ANTS A COLONY of ants.

Melissa Bee

An ARMY of ants.

A STATE or SWARM of ants.APES A SHREWDNESS of apesASSES A HERD or PACE of asses

A DROVE of asses.BABOONS A TROOP of baboons

Michael Haberl

A FLANGE*** of baboons

Judith Rich

A CONGRESS of baboons.

John Provost

*** The history of this term is very interesting see the following -

http://www.qi.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=8498&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15&sid=764b6eda

4eab5327541dcc71faae5e12

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baboon

BACTERIA A COLONY of bacteria.

Micribiologists call groups of bacteria COLONIES. A culture would consist of many colonies.

Ron Orts

A CULTURE of bacteria.

Chris Moffatt

BADGERS A CETE of badgersBARRACUDAS A BATTERY of barracudas.BASS A SHOAL of bass.

Melissa Bee.

BATS A COLONY of bats.

Melissa Bee.

A CLOUD of bats.

Keith Harris

BEARS A SLOTH or SLEUTH of bearsBEAVERS A COLONY of beavers.

A FAMILY of beavers.BEES A GRIST, HIVE, SWARM, DRIFT or BIKE of bees

A CLUSTER, ERST or NEST of bees.BIRDS A FLOCK, FLIGHT, or PARCEL of birds.

A POD of birds (small flock)A VOLARY of birds (in an aviary)A BRACE = a pair of gamebirds or waterfowl *

* Melissa Bee.

A DISSIMULATION of birds.

Phillip Joss

BISON A HERD of bison.BITTERNS A SEDGE of bitterns.

Melissa Bee.

BOAR (WILD) A SOUNDER or SINGULAR of wild boar

BOBOLINKS A CHAIN of bobolinks (whatever they might be!!)

Melissa Bee.

Just in case there is anyone else out there who, like me, doesn't know what a Bobolink is I have been reliably informed by Amelia B., that it is a small bird. The male is black and white with a yellow cap on his head and the female is golden brown with brown markings.

Another name for a bobolink is a whippoorwill***(their call sounds a little like someone saying the word whippoorwill).

Thanks to Eric Pittenger for this additional information.

*** Apparently this is not the case.

Clarice Olle has been kind enough to point out that the above is in fact incorrect.

A bob-o-link (short for Robert of Lincoln) is NOT the same bird as a whippoorwill.

This is confirmed on the site at http://nationalzoo.si.edu/default.cfm

John Canepa as also provided the following information:

Bobolinks and whippoorwills are two different birds. The bobolink is a small-medium size bird dwelling in open fields where it makes its nest on the ground and has one of the most amazing and hysterical songs ever. The whippoorwill is a medium size bird, active at night, with plumage so as that you practically step on them as they rest on the forest floor. An interesting note about the whippoorwill is that they will come to rest in a circle, with their tails all facing in so that they can be protected from danger.

Susan Vanderveen also confirms - I respectively submit the information that a Bobolink and Whip-poor-will are not two terms for one bird. They are two very distinct species.

BUCK A BRACE OR CLASH of bucks.

Michael Haberl

I was looking at your wonderful list of animal collectives for my website (everbosity.wordpress.com) and came across the use of "brace" several times, firstly under birds. A brace is a pair of anything and not specifically related to any animal. A player can score a brace of goals in a football match for example. I wouldn't consider it a collective title.

Tench Ringgold

BUDGERIGARS A CHATTER of budgerigars.

BUFFALO A HERD, TROUP, GANG or OBSTINACY of buffaloBULLOCKS A DROVE of bullocks.

BUTTERFLIES A SWARM or RABBLE of butterflies.

A KALEIDOSCOPE of butterflies.

Christina Gonzales

A FLUTTER of butterflies.

Priscilla Weikert

A RAINBOW of butterflies.

Amy Black

BUZZARDS A WAKE of buzzards.

Melissa Bee

CAMELS A CARAVAN, FLOCK or TRAIN of camels.

CARIBOU A HERD of caribou.

CATERPILLARS An ARMY of caterpillars.

Melissa Bee

CATTLE A HERD, DROVE or DRIFT of cattle.A MOB of cattle (US and Australia*)

*John Slay

"Cattle" refers to both male and female cows.

Gwendolyn Cannon

Gwendolyn Cannon suggests that 'Cattle' refers to both male and female cows. You must be joshing me Gwendolyn. There is no such thing as a male cow ! He's either a "Bull" or a "steer/Ox". I'll bet you did that on purpose just to see how many responses you get, didn't you ?

Donald Gillis

Additional Clarification

Although Donald is, of course, correct, in defence of Gwendolyn I think she was using the term 'cow' colloquially

as it is quite difficult to think of a term which covers both sexes(hence the use of the term 'cattle' in the first place.

According to Oxford Dictionaries - the definition of 'cattle' is 'large ruminant animals with horns and cloven hoofs,

domesticated for meat or milk, or as beasts of burden; cows and oxen.'

Another term for male cattle is 'bullock'. A bullock is a male domestic bovine animal that has been castrated and is raised

for beef.

CATS A CLOWDER of cats. (sent in by Paul Chapin)A POUNCE of cats.A KINDLE, LITTER OR INTRIGUE (for kittens)

Melissa Bee

A CLUTTER of cats.

A COMFORT of cats.

Gary Goldring

A CHOWDER of cats.

Amy Black

CHEETAHS A COALITION of cheetahs

Lisa Ashley Mayock

CHICKEN A BROOD, CLUTCH, FLOCK, RUN or PEEP of chickenCHICKS A CLUTCH OR CHATTERING of chicks.

Michael Haberl

CHOUGHS A CHATTERING of choughs.CLAMS A BED of clams

Clyde Hogendobler

COATI (COATIMUNDI) A BAND of coati (coatimundi)COBRAS A QUIVER of cobras

Michael Haberl

COCKROACHES An INTRUSION of cockroaches.

Melissa Bee

COLTS A RAG of colts.COOTS A COVERT or COVER* of coots.

*Melissa Bee

CORMORANTS A GULP (SOLITUDE)* OR FLIGHT of cormorants.

*Melissa Bee

COWS A HERD of cows.

Patricia Ellistone

A KINE* of cows (12 cows are a FLINK)

Michael Haberl

* This term is not widely used these days and is considered archaic by some.

"Kine" refers to only female cows (like a dairy herd). "Cattle" refers to both male and female cows.

Gwendolyn Cannon

SEE ALSO "CATTLE" above for other terms.

COYOTE A PACK of coyotes

A TRAIN of coyotes Donald Kross

A BAND of coyotes Michael Haberl

A ROUT of coyotes Bud Stockwell

CRABS A BUSHEL*** of crabs

Kristen Reece

A CAST of crabs

C. MacIntire

***For your information, a bushel of crabs is what you call it if you are buying crabs to eat. Bushel is the measurement of how many you will buy (i.e. Half a bushel, two bushels). Its like buying meat in pounds at the deli. eaten. I believe a group of live crabs is called a cast.

Steve Miller has also pointed out that it is incorrect to apply this label to certain specific species e.g. a bushel of crabs as you could equally have a bushel of corn.

CRANES A HERD, SEIGE or SEDGE* of cranes

* fMelissa Bee

CROCODILES A CONGREGATION or NEST

A BASK or FLOAT of crocodiles.

Michael Haberl

A STRIKER (unconfirmed)

Mike Paget

CROWS A HOVER, MUSTER, or PARCEL of crows.

A MURDER of crows

Jill Dobbs, Rachael Blomeley and anon.

A HORDE of crows.

Melissa Bee

A PARLIAMENT of crows.

Jill Dean

CUBS A LITTER of cubsCURLEW A HERD of curlewCURS A COWARDICE of curs.

Michael Haberl

DEER

ROE DEER

A HERD, LEASH or MOB of deer

A BEVY of roe deer.

Melissa Bee

DOGFISH A TROOP of dogfishDOGS A PACK (wild dogs) or KENNEL of dogs

A COWARDICE of curs. )A LITTER of puppies.

Melissa Bee

DOLPHINS A SCHOOL of dolphins.

A POD of dolphins.

Audrie Dugger

DONKEYS A HERD or PACE of donkeys/asses

Melissa Bee & Michael Haberl

DOTTEREL A TRIP of dotterel.

Melissa Bee

Apparently a Dotterel is a rare plover of upland areas of Eurasia.

Thanks to Linwood Lyons for supplying this useful information.

DOVES A FLIGHT, DULE or DOLE of doves.A PITYING of turtle doves.

Melissa Bee

A PLAGUE of doves

Jay Johnson

DUCKS A RAFT, PADDLING or BUNCH of ducks on water.A TEAM, BRACE, BED, FLIGHT OR FLOCK* of wild ducks in flight.

Melissa Bee

A BADLING of ducks.

Gordon Potts


Tench Ringgold

DUNLINS A FLING of dunlinsEAGLES A CONVOCATION of eagles.

A CONGREGATION of eagles.

Mike Field

EELS An ARRAY of eels.

John Beumer

A SEETHING of eels.

David Thomson

ELEPHANTS A HERD or PARADE* of elephants

*also Raila and Jon Foley

A CRASH of elephants.

Susan Walsh

ELK A HERD of elk.A GANG of elk (US)

EMUS A MOB of emus.

Michael Haberl

FERRETS A BUSINESS of ferrets.

( Clyde Hogendobler, Phillip Joss & Brian Schott)

A BUSYNESS of ferrets.

Angus Mackintosh

Other spellings of this term can be see at http://www.all-about-ferrets.com/collective-noun-for-ferrets.html

FINCHES A CHARM of finchesFISH A SHOAL, DRAFT, NEST, SCHOOL* of fish.

A RUN of fish in motion.

* Melissa Bee

FLAMINGOES A STAND of flamingoes.

Melissa Bee

A FLAMBOYANCE of flamingoes.

Kevin Yocum

FLIES A CLOUD, HATCH, BUSINESS* or SWARM of flies.

* Melissa Bee

FOXES A SKULK of foxes

Clyde Hogendobler

A CLOUD, TROOP, or COMPANY of foxes.A LEASH OR EARTH of foxes.*

* Melissa Bee

FROGS An ARMY or COLONY of frogs. Michael Haberl

A KNOT of frogs.

Luke Fewings

GEESE A GAGGLE or FLOCK of geese.A SKEIN, TEAM or WEDGE of geese (in the air)A PLUMP of geese (on water)

GERBILS A HORDE of gerbils.

GIRAFFES A CORPS, TROOP, HERD of giraffes.

A TOWER of giraffes.

Melissa Bee

A KINDERGARTEN of giraffes.

James Marohn

A JOURNEY of giraffes.

Raila and Jon Foley

A KALEIDOSCOPE of giraffes

Jess Gayner (via South African Game Ranger)

GNATS A CLOUD OR HORDE of gnats.

Melissa Bee

GNUS An IMPLAUSIBILITY of gnus.

Andrew Davidson

GOATS A FLOCK, HERD or TRIBE of goats

A TRIP of goats (This is not one I have heard of before - thank you Lee Lundberg)

GOLDFINCHES A CHARM of goldfinches.GOLDFISH A TROUBLING of goldfish.

GORILLAS A BAND of gorillas

Clyde Hogendobler

A WHOOP of gorillas.

Several people have suggested a 'flange' of gorillas as this was featured in Series 2, episode 5 of 'Not The Nine O'Clock News' on the 28/04/1980

http://fans.noumene.com/ntnonfan/not.php?sketches#gorilla

however, I feel this actually puts the term in doubt as appears to be qualified by Stephen Fry at:-

http://old.qi.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=8498&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15&sid=764b6eda4eab5327541dcc71faae5e12

GRASSHOPPERS A CLOUD of grasshoppers.GREYHOUNDS A LEASH of greyhounds.GROUSE A PACK or COVEY of grouseGUILLEMOTS A BAZAAR of guillemots.GUINEA FOWL A CONFUSION of guinea fowl.

Alexandra Bylczynski

A RASP of guinea fowl.

Reginald Hughes

GUINEA PIGS A GROUP of guinea pigs

Mike Holden

GULLS A COLONY of gulls.

Melissa Bee

HAMSTERS A HORDE of hamsters.

Margie and John

HARES A HUSK, DOWN or MUTE of hares.

A TRACE of hares.


HAWKS A CAST, KETTLE (flying in large numbers) or BOIL (two or more) of hawks.

Melissa Bee

HEDGEHOGS An ARRAY of hedgehogs.HENS A BROOD of hens.HERONS A SCATTERING, SEIGE or SEDGE* of herons.

* Melissa Bee

HERRING An ARMY of herring.

Melissa Bee

HIPPOPOTAMI A BLOAT of hippopotami (or hippopotamuses)

A RAFT of hippopotami

Jess Gayner (via South African Game Ranger)

HOATZIN

(South American jungle bird)

A DONGLE of hoatzin.

Elliot Eaton

HOGS A DRIFT or PARCEL of hogs.

Michael Haberl

HORNETS A NEST of hornets.

Melissa Bee

HORSES A STUD or STRING of horses (Breeding)A TEAM, HARRAS, PAIR or RAG of horses (i.e. colts.)* A FIELD, HERD, REMUDA, SET or STABLE of horses.

* Melissa Bee

HOUNDS A PACK, KENNEL, MUTE or CRY of hounds

Possibly LEASH of hounds (but cannot confirm this fact)

John Branda.

HUMMINGBIRDS A CHARM of hummingbirds

Richard Sanborn BA, MA, JDHYENAS A CACKLE of hyenas.

Melissa Bee

INSECTS A SWARM of insectsJACKRABBITS A HUSK of jackrabbits.JAYS A PARTY or SCOLD of jays.

Melissa Bee

JELLYFISH A BROOD, SMUCK or SMACK of jellyfish.KANGAROOS A MOB or TROOP of kangaroosKITTENS A KENDLE, KINDLE or LITTER of kittens.LADYBIRDS (LADYBUGS/LADYBEETLES)

A LOVELINESS of ladybirds.

Sent in by Simon Odell - not authenticated but too nice to omit.

LAPWINGS A DESERT or DECEIT* of lapwings.

*Melissa Bee

LARKS A BEVY of larks.An EXALTATION of larks.

Elazar Friedman

An ASCENSION of larks.

Michael Haberl

LEMURS A TROOP of lemurs.

Alex Dunkel

LEOPARDS A LEAP of leopards

Clyde Hogendobler

LICE A FLOCK of lice.

LIONS A PRIDE, FLOCK, SAWT, SOUSE, or TROOP of lions.

A SAULT of lions.


LOCUSTS A CLOUD, PLAGUE or SWARM of locusts.LOONS A RAFT of loons.

Dr. D. T. Mulhearn

Dr. Mulhearn kindly provided some additional information on this subject.

"The term is not often usable because they rarely group. On occasion however, for reasons yet unknown, they will meet for short periods, on a lake in groups numbering from a half dozen to a few dozen. They drift around the lake in their raft for a few days until they eventually again go their separate ways."

MAGPIES A TITTERING, TIDING, GULP, MURDER or CHARM* of magpies.

* Melissa Bee

MALLARDS A SORD or BRACE* of mallards.

Elazar Friedman

* Melissa Bee


Tench Ringgold

MARES A STUD of mares.

Michael Haberl

MARTENS A RICHNESS of martens.

Melissa Bee

A RICHESSE of martens.

Jayne Collins

MEERKATS A MOB of meerkats.

Kristin Howard

MICE A MISCHIEF of mice. A HORDE of mice. A HARVEST of mice. A COLONY of mice.A NEST of mice.

MINNOWS A STEAM of minnows.MOLES A LABOUR of moles.

Phillip Joss

MONGOOSES A BUSINESS of mongooses.

Steve Rundstrom

MONKEYS A TROOP, CARTLOAD or BARREL* of monkeys

* Melissa Bee

MOOSE A HERD of moose.MOSQUITOES A SCOURGE of mosquitoes.MULES A BARREN, PACK* or SPAN of mules.

* Melissa Bee

NIGHTINGALES A WATCH of nightingales.

An ENCHANTMENT of nightingales.

David Thomson

OTTERS A FAMILY, BEVY or ROMP* of otters.

* Melissa Bee

A RAFT of otters

Donald Cheek.

OWLS A PARLIAMENT of owls.

Anonymous contributor & Raila and Jon Foley

A STARE or WISDOM of owls.

Grant Schneider

A STUDY of owls.

Amelia B.

OXEN A TEAM or YOKE of oxen..

Melissa Bee

A DROVE or HERD of oxen

Michael Haberl

A SPAN* of oxen

Richard Bowen

*(I believe this may refer to a team of two or more)

OYSTERS A BED of oysters

Clyde Hogendobler and Kristen Reece

PARROTS A PANDEMONIUM or COMPANY* of parrots.

* Melissa Bee

PARTRIDGES A COVEY of partridges

PEACOCKS A MUSTER or OSTENTATION* of peacock.

* Melissa Bee

A PULCHRITUDE of peacocks.

* S. M. Steven.

PEEPS A LITTER of peeps.

Michael Haberl

PELICANS A SQUADRON of pelicans.

Miranda

A POD or SCOOP of pelicans.PENGUINS A ROOKERY or COLONY* of penguins

* Melissa Bee

PHEASANTS A HEAD, NYE, NEST, , NIDE (BROOD)* or BEVY of pheasants.

* Melissa Bee

A BOUQUET of pheasants (in flight)


PIGEONS A KIT of pigeons (flying together)A FLOCK or FLIGHT of pigeons.

Michael Haberl

I have been advised by Terry West that this can also be a "LOFT" of pigeons. I am, however, a little nervous about this one as I know pigeons' living quarters are called a Loft.

You question a 'loft' of pigeons because a loft may be a pigeon's home. Many creatures can be referred to in this way - cf. a dray of squirrels; and I wonder if a cete of badgers is not, at heart, a 'set' of badgers.

Roger Whiteway

PIGS A HERD, TRIP or LITTER of pigsA DRIFT, DROVE, SOUNDER (swine), TEAM, PASSEL (hogs)*

* Melissa Bee

PLOVERS A STAND, WING OR CONGREGATION of ploversPONIES A DROVE OR STRING of ponies.PORCUPINES A PRICKLE of porcupines.

* Melissa Bee

PORPOISES A HERD, SCHOOL or POD of porpoises.PRAIRIE DOGS A COTERIE of prairie dogs.

Ken

PTARMIGAN A COVEY of Ptarmigan

PUPS A LITTER of pups

A PUDDLE of puppies

Sarah Smith

QUAIL A BEVY, DRIFT or COVEY* of quail

* Melissa Bee

RABBITS A BURY, COLONY, CIRCLE, NEST, HERD (domestic), LITTER (young) of rabbits.

* Melissa Bee

A TRACE of rabbits.


Several people, including Lyle McNair, have submitted this term but it has always been my understanding that 'warren' was the name given to the network of interconnecting rabbit burrows in which rabbits live.

Collective nouns are notoriously difficult to authenticate but during research, although I could not find official clarification that warren is an authentic collective noun, I have seen other references to its use so I have decided to include it.

A WARREN of rabbits.

Lyle has now sent me some additional information regarding the use of the term "warren" as a collective noun.

The "World English Dictionary" (accessible through www.dictionary.com) defines "warren" as "a colony of rabbits" and "colony" in a zoological sense is further defined as "a group of the same type of animal or plant living or growing together, especially in large numbers".

RACCOONS A GAZE of raccoons.

Chris Lam

A NURSERY of raccoons.RACEHORSES A STRING of racehorsesRATS A COLONY of rats.

A PACK or SWARM of rats.

Michael Haberl

A MISCHIEF of rats.

Phil Malia,

RATTLESNAKES A RHUMBA of rattlesnakes.

Michael Haberl.

RAVENS An UNKINDNESS of ravens.

A MURDER of ravens.

Michelle Hellstern

A CONSPIRACY of ravens.

Alex Baxter

REINDEER A HERD of reindeer.RHINOS A CRASH or HERD of rhinos

Clyde Hogendobler) Michael Haberl/ Raila and Jon Foley

ROEBUCKS A BEVY of roebucks.ROOKS A BUILDING or ROOKERY of rooks.

A CLAMOUR of rooks.

Michael Haberl

A PARLIAMENT of rooks.

Clayton Deathe

ROTIFERS

(a type of plankton found in lakes and rivers)

A POD of rotifers.

Matt

RUFFS A HILL of ruffsSARDINES A FAMILY of sardines.

SASQUATCH A PUNGENT of sasquatch.

Lindsay Boe

SCHNAUZERS A STENCH of Schnauzers

No complaints please, this was sent in by DD a Schnauzer owner who is a Veterinary Surgeon (identity protected by me, for obvious reasons!!!!)

SEA OTTERS A RAFT of sea otters Donald Cheek.

SEAGULLS A FLOCK of seagulls.

Jason Murray

SEAHORSES A HERD of seahorses. *

* It is rare for seahorses to group together so there is no real collective noun but the above is the term sometimes used for a collection of seahorses.

Paul Bergeron has also advised that the term for the offspring of seahorses is "fry".

SEALS A HERD, HAREM * , TRIP or ROOKERY* of sealsA POD of seals (a small herd)

* Tom Clarke has commented - "I note that you list harem for seals. A harem usually refers to a group of female seals who have been organized or collected by a single male for breeding purposes."

* Leigh-Anne Kolasinski advises that the term "rookery" is normally used for the place where seals give birth rather than as a collective noun.

Another term used for on land habitat of seals/sea lions is 'haul-out' but this would not be used as a collective noun.

D. C. Reid.

I have noticed that many of the collective nouns featured on the various pages do in fact refer to the habitat rather than groups but these terms are notoriously difficult to authenticate; even the most prestigious dictionaries do not feature them, presumably for that reason. I am led to believe, however, that the The Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus (ed. Maurice Waite, 2007) shows this term as being a collective noun.

SHARKS A SHIVER of sharks.

Melissa Bee

SHEEP A FLOCK, HERD, HIRSEL, PACK, DROVE* or TRIP of sheep

*Courtesy of Melissa Bee

A MOB of sheep (Australian)

Anthony Coates

SKUNKS A SURFEIT of skunks.

Mary Gutierrez

SKYLARKS An ASCENSION of skylarks.

David Milne

SNAKES A DEN, BED, PIT or SLITHER of snakes.

A NEST or KNOT of snakes.

Melissa Bee

A BROOD of snakes (a family group)

Robert Richards

SNIPE A WISP or WALK of snipeSPARROWS A HOST of sparrows.

A KNOT of sparrows. (Thomas Hardy Far from the Madding Crowd)

Steve

SQUIRRELS A DRAY* or SCURRY* of squirrels.

* Melissa Bee

* Laurel Parker has pointed out -

"I believe the term "dray" of squirrels is incorrect, since a dray is the name for a squirrel's sleeping quarters, and most of the time there is only one squirrel inhabiting a dray. At most, a dray would house a litter (2-4 babies) plus mom but that is only twice a year.

Squirrels do use a buddy system when they can and pair or triple up for safety ( this is not their mates but often siblings or two weaker members of a greater community will buddy for strength in numbers).

Any way you look at it, a dray doesn't hold much of a group."

I did some research on the subject and the term "dray" some appear to be the popular choice, however, like Laurel, experts say that as squirrels are fairly solitary creatures there is probably no need for a collective noun.

I doubt if the lady who sent in the photos featured on the following site would agree!

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/mammal-forums/12141-do-i-really-deserve.html

STARLINGS A MURMATION of starlings.

Elazar Friedman

A MURMURATION of starlings.

Corrected by Andrew Okulitch

A FILTH of starlings

Wayne Bickley

A CHATTERING of starlings.

Richard Sanborn BA, MA, JD

AN AFFLICTION of starlings.

John Nanian

STINGRAYS A FEVER of stingrays.

Ellie Foran & Darryll Griffiths

STORKS A MUSTERING of storks.

Melissa Bee

SWALLOWS A FLIGHT or GULP of swallows

SWANS A GAME, BANK, TEAM, HERD or BEVY* of swans.

A WEDGE of swans in the air.

Melissa Bee

A LAMENTATION of swans.

Michael Haberl

A BALLET of swans.

Tom

SWIFTS A FLOCK of swifts

Michael Haberl

SWINE A HERD, DRIFT OR SOUNDER of swineTADPOLES A CLOUD of tadpoles.

Summer Robinson

Jim Arnosky's book A Kettle of Hawks and other wildlife groups

TEAL A SPRING of teal.TERMITES A BROOD, COLONY, NEST OR SWARM of termites.THRUSHES A MUTATION of thrushes.TIGERS An AMBUSH or STREAK* of tigers.

* Melissa Bee

TOADS A KNOT or KNAB of toads

Clyde Hogendobler

TORTOISES A CREEP of tortoises.TROUT A HOVER of trout.TURKEYS A RAFTER or GANG* of turkeys.

* Melissa Bee

A CLUTCH * of turkeys.

Anon

* I think this term usually refers to the eggs e.g. "a clutch of eggs"

TURTLE DOVES A PITYING or DULE of turtle doves.

Melissa Bee

TURTLES A BALE, DOLE or NEST* of turtles.

Clyde Hogendobler

A TURN of turtles.

* Melissa Bee

UNICORNS A FANTASY of unicorns.

Natalie Stevens

A BLESSING of unicorns.

Jayne Collins.

A GLORY of unicorns.

Brigitte Wray-Miller (via Bruce Coville)

A SURPRISE of unicorns.

Danielle W. (via Jane Yolen's short story "The Boy Who Drew Unicorns"

VIPERS A NEST of vipers. Melissa Bee

A BROOD of vipers.

The term 'brood' has been applied to vipers, most notably by Jesus (Matthew 12:34, Matthew 23:33), but also by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:7, Luke 3:7). Whether or not this stands up to scrutiny and qualifies as a precedent (given that neither of the two were scientists, nor were the translators of the Bible) is, of course, up to you.

Indy Sambasivam

VULTURES A COMMITTEE of vultures.

Kevin Yocum

WALRUSES A HERD or POD of walruses.WASPS A PLADGE of wasps.

A PAIL of wasps.

A NEST of wasps.


WATERFOWL A BUNCH, KNOB, TRIP or PLUMP* of waterfowl

* Melissa Bee

WEASELS A **BOOGLE, GANG, *CONFUSION or PACK of weasels.

** Contributed by Dr Scott A McGinlay BVMS MRCVS DVM

*Wayne Bickley

WHALES A SCHOOL, HERD or GAM of whalesA POD of whales (small school)A GRIND of bottle nose whales

WIDGEON A COMPANY or TRIP of widgeonWILDFOWL A BUNCH, TRIP or PLUMP of wildfowl.

A KNOB of wildfowl (less than 30)WOLVES A PACK or ROUT of wolves

WOMBATS A WISDOM of wombats.

Andy Williams

WOODCOCKS A FALL of woodcocks.WOODPECKERS A DESCENT of woodpeckers.WORMS A CLEW of worms.WRENS A HERD of wrens

A CHIME of wrens Phillip Joss

ZEBRAS A ZEAL, HERD or DAZZLE* of zebras

* Raila and Jon Foley

animal group names

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