Collective Nouns
Ever wondered what the collective
noun is for various groups of animals, birds or insects? Here are some of
the obvious and not so obvious.I would like to point out that these terms have not been officially
“authenticated”.
TERMS FOR GROUPS OF | |
|
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ANTELOPES | A HERD of antelopes. |
ANTS | A Melissa Bee An A |
APES | A SHREWDNESS |
ASSES | A HERD or A |
BABOONS | A TROOP of baboons Michael A Judith Rich A CONGRESS John Provost |
BACTERIA | A COLONY of bacteria. Micribiologists call groups of bacteria Ron Orts A Chris Moffatt |
BADGERS | A CETE of badgers |
BARRACUDAS | A BATTERY of barracudas. |
BASS | A SHOAL of bass. Melissa Bee. |
BATS | A COLONY of bats. Melissa Bee. A CLOUD Keith Harris |
BEARS | A SLOTH or |
BEAVERS | A COLONY of beavers. A FAMILY |
BEES | A GRIST, HIVE, SWARM, DRIFT or BIKE A |
BIRDS | A FLOCK, FLIGHT, or PARCEL * Melissa Bee. A Phillip Joss |
BISON | A HERD of bison. |
BITTERNS | A SEDGE of bitterns. Melissa Bee. |
BOAR (WILD) | A SOUNDER or |
BOBOLINKS | A CHAIN of bobolinks (whatever they might be!!)
Just in case there is anyone else out Another name for a bobolink is a Thanks to *** Clarice A bob-o-link (short for Robert John Canepa as Bobolinks and whippoorwills Susan |
BUCK | A
I was looking at your Tench |
BUDGERIGARS | A CHATTER of budgerigars. |
BUFFALO | A HERD, TROUP, GANG or OBSTINACY |
BULLOCKS | A DROVE of bullocks. |
BUTTERFLIES | A SWARM or RABBLE of butterflies. A Christina Gonzales A Priscilla Weikert A RAINBOW 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 |
CATS | A
A A Gary Goldring A Amy Black A COLONY Jennifer Bradley |
CATTLE | A HERD, DROVE or DRIFT *John Slay “Cattle” refers to both male and female cows. Gwendolyn Cannon Gwendolyn Cannon suggests that ‘Cattle’ refers to both male and female Donald Gillis Additional Clarification Although Donald is, of course, correct, in defence According to Another term for male cattle is ‘bullock’. A |
CHEETAHS | A COALITION of cheetahs Lisa Ashley Mayock |
CHICKEN | A BROOD, CLUTCH, |
CHICKS | A CLUTCH OR CHATTERING of chicks. Michael |
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.
|
COLTS | A RAG of colts. |
COOTS | A COVERT or COVER* of coots. *Melissa Bee |
CORMORANTS | A GULP (SOLITUDE)* OR FLIGHT of cormorants. |
COWS | A HERD of cows. Patricia A Michael Haberl * This term is not widely used “Kine” refers to only female cows (like a dairy herd). Gwendolyn Cannon
|
COYOTE | A PACK of coyotes A TRAIN A BAND A ROUT |
CRABS | A BUSHEL*** of crabs Kristen Reece A CAST C. MacIntire
***For
|
CRANES | A HERD, SEIGE or * fMelissa Bee |
CROCODILES | A CONGREGATION or NEST A BASK
A
|
CROWS | A A Jill A HORDE of
A Jill Dean |
CUBS | A LITTER of cubs |
CURLEW | A HERD of curlew |
CURS | A COWARDICE of curs. |
DEER ROE DEER | A HERD, LEASH or MOB A Melissa Bee |
DOGFISH | A TROOP of dogfish |
DOGS | A PACK (wild dogs) or KENNEL Melissa Bee |
DOLPHINS | A SCHOOL of dolphins. A Audrie Dugger |
DONKEYS | A HERD or PACE of donkeys/asses Melissa Bee & Michael |
DOTTEREL | A TRIP of dotterel. Melissa Bee Apparently a Dotterel is a rare plover Thanks to Dotterels breed on our beach near Nelson, New Zealand, in the southern summer. They then migrate to Siberia for the northern summer, and so on. They are quite small dainty birds, you would never guess that they have such stamina. Robert Bull |
DOVES | A FLIGHT, Melissa Bee A Jay Johnson |
DUCKS | A RAFT, PADDLING or BUNCH Melissa Bee A Gordon Potts I was looking at your wonderful list of animal collectives for my Tench |
DUNLINS | A FLING of dunlins |
EAGLES | A CONVOCATION of eagles. A Mike Field |
EELS | An ARRAY of eels. John Beumer A David |
ELEPHANTS | A HERD or
Susan Walsh |
ELK | A HERD of elk. |
EMUS | A MOB of emus. Michael Haberl |
FERRETS | A BUSINESS of ferrets. A Angus Other
|
FINCHES | A CHARM of finches |
FISH | A SHOAL, * Melissa Bee |
FLAMINGOES | A STAND of flamingoes. Melissa Bee A FLAMBOYANCE Kevin Yocum |
FLIES | A CLOUD, HATCH, BUSINESS* or SWARM |
FOXES | A SKULK of foxes Clyde Hogendobler A CLOUD,
|
FROGS | An ARMY or COLONY of frogs. Michael Haberl A KNOT Luke Fewings |
GEESE | A |
GERBILS | A HORDE of gerbils. |
GIRAFFES | A A TOWER Melissa A A A Jess |
GNATS | A CLOUD OR HORDE of gnats.
|
GNUS | An IMPLAUSIBILITY of gnus.
|
GOATS | A FLOCK, HERD or TRIBE A |
GOLDFINCHES | A CHARM of goldfinches. |
GOLDFISH | A TROUBLING of goldfish. |
GORILLAS | A BAND of gorillas Clyde Hogendobler A WHOOP
Mark In the sketch
Both “flange”
It’s debatable
|
GRASSHOPPERS | A CLOUD of grasshoppers. |
GREYHOUNDS | A LEASH of greyhounds. |
GROUSE | A PACK or COVEY of |
GUILLEMOTS | A BAZAAR of guillemots. |
GUINEA FOWL | A CONFUSION of guinea fowl. Alexandra A Reginald |
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 Alexandra |
HAWKS | A Melissa |
HEDGEHOGS | An ARRAY of hedgehogs. |
HENS | A BROOD of hens. |
HERONS | A SCATTERING, SEIGE or SEDGE* of herons. |
HERRING | An ARMY of herring.
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HIPPOPOTAMI | A BLOAT of hippopotami (or hippopotamuses) A RAFT Jess Gayner |
HOATZIN (South American jungle bird) | A DONGLE of hoatzin. Elliot Eaton |
HOGS | A DRIFT or PARCEL of hogs.
|
HORNETS | A NEST of hornets. Melissa Bee |
HORSES | A STUD or |
HOUNDS | A PACK, KENNEL, MUTE or CRY Possibly John |
HUMMINGBIRDS | A CHARM of hummingbirds Richard |
HYENAS | A CACKLE of hyenas. Melissa Bee |
INSECTS | A SWARM of insects |
JACKRABBITS | 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 |
KITTENS | A |
LADYBIRDS LADYBUGS LADYBEETLES | A LOVELINESS of ladybirds. Joe Dahl says – I too have heard of the |
LAPWINGS | A DESERT or DECEIT* of lapwings. *Melissa Bee |
LARKS | A BEVY of larks. Elazar Friedman An ASCENSION Michael |
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 A Alexandra |
LOCUSTS | A CLOUD, PLAGUE or SWARM of locusts. |
LOONS | A RAFT of loons. Dr. D. T.
|
MAGPIES | A TITTERING, TIDING, GULP, MURDER or CHARM* of magpies. * Melissa Bee |
MALLARDS | A SORD or BRACE* of mallards. Elazar Friedman I was looking at your Tench |
MARES | A STUD of mares. |
MARTENS | A RICHNESS of martens. Melissa Bee A RICHESSE 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 |
MONKEYS | A TROOP, CARTLOAD * |
MOOSE | A HERD of moose. |
MOSQUITOES | A SCOURGE of mosquitoes. |
MULES | A BARREN, PACK* or SPAN of mules. |
NIGHTINGALES | A WATCH of nightingales. An David Thomson |
OTTERS | A FAMILY, BEVY or ROMP* of otters. * Melissa Bee A RAFT Donald Cheek. |
OWLS | A PARLIAMENT of owls. Anonymous A STARE Grant Schneider A STUDY Amelia B. |
OXEN | A TEAM or YOKE of oxen.. Melissa Bee A DROVE or Michael Haberl A SPAN* Richard Bowen *(I believe this may |
OYSTERS | A BED of oysters Clyde Hogendobler and Kristen Reece |
PARROTS | A PANDEMONIUM or COMPANY* of parrots. |
PARTRIDGES | A COVEY of |
PEACOCKS | A MUSTER or OSTENTATION* of peacock. * Melissa Bee A |
PEEPS | A LITTER of peeps.
|
PELICANS | A SQUADRON of pelicans. Miranda A |
PENGUINS | A ROOKERY or |
PHEASANTS | A HEAD, NYE, NEST, , NIDE (BROOD)* or * Melissa Bee A Alexandra |
PIGEONS | A KIT of pigeons
I have been You Roger Whiteway |
PIGS | A |
PLOVERS | A STAND, WING OR CONGREGATION |
PONIES | A DROVE OR STRING of ponies. |
PORCUPINES | A PRICKLE of porcupines. * Melissa |
PORPOISES | A HERD, SCHOOL or POD |
PRAIRIE DOGS | A COTERIE of prairie dogs. Ken |
PTARMIGAN | A COVEY of |
PUGS (breed of dog) | A GRUMBLE of Pugs |
PUPS | A LITTER of pups A Sarah Smith |
QUAIL | A BEVY, DRIFT or |
RABBITS | A BURY, COLONY, CIRCLE, NEST, HERD (domestic), LITTER (young) of rabbits. A Alexandra Several Collective A Lyle has now sent me some 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 |
RACEHORSES | A STRING of |
RATS | A COLONY of rats. A PACK or SWARM of rats. Michael Haberl A MISCHIEF Phil |
RATTLESNAKES | A RHUMBA of rattlesnakes. Michael Haberl. |
RAVENS | An UNKINDNESS of ravens. A MURDER Michelle Hellstern A Alex Baxter |
REINDEER | A HERD of reindeer. |
RHINOS | A CRASH or HERD of rhinos
|
ROEBUCKS | A BEVY of roebucks. |
ROOKS | A BUILDING or ROOKERY of rooks. A CLAMOUR of rooks. Michael Haberl A PARLIAMENT Clayton Deathe |
ROTIFERS (a type of plankton found in lakes and | A POD of rotifers. Matt |
RUFFS | A HILL of ruffs |
SARDINES | A FAMILY of sardines. |
SASQUATCH | A PUNGENT of sasquatch. Lindsay |
SCHNAUZERS | A STENCH of Schnauzers No complaints please, this was sent in by DD a Schnauzer owner who is a |
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 Paul Bergeron has also |
SEALS | A HERD, HAREM*, TRIP or ROOKERY* * Tom Clarke has commented – “I
Another D. C. Reid. I have noticed that |
SHARKS | A SHIVER of sharks. Melissa Bee |
SHEEP | A FLOCK, HERD, HIRSEL, PACK, DROVE* or *Courtesy of Melissa A Anthony Coates |
SKUNKS | A SURFEIT of skunks. Mary |
SKYLARKS | An ASCENSION of skylarks. David Milne |
SNAKES | A DEN, BED, PIT or SLITHER of snakes. A Melissa Bee A BROOD Robert Richards |
SNIPE | A WISP or WALK of |
SPARROWS | A HOST of sparrows. A KNOT Steve |
SQUIRRELS | A DRAY* or SCURRY* of squirrels. * Melissa Bee * “I believe the term “dray” of squirrels is Squirrels do use a buddy system when they can Any way you look at it, a dray doesn’t hold much I did some research on the
|
STARLINGS | A MURMATION of starlings. Elazar Friedman A Corrected A FILTH Wayne Bickley Richard AN |
STINGRAYS | A FEVER of stingrays. Ellie Foran & |
STORKS | A MUSTERING of storks. Melissa Bee |
SWALLOWS | A FLIGHT or GULP of |
SWANS | A GAME, BANK, TEAM, HERD A WEDGE of swans in Melissa Bee A Michael Haberl A Tom |
SWIFTS | A FLOCK of swifts
|
SWINE | A HERD, |
TADPOLES | A CLOUD of tadpoles. Summer Jim Arnosky’s book A |
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. * |
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 * Anon * I think this term |
TURTLE DOVES | A PITYING or DULE of turtle doves. Melissa Bee |
TURTLES | A BALE, DOLE or NEST* of turtles. Clyde A * Melissa Bee |
UNICORNS | A FANTASY of unicorns. Natalie A Jayne A Brigitte A SURPRISE
|
VIPERS | A NEST of vipers. Melissa Bee A BROOD
The term ‘brood’ has been applied to vipers, most notably by Jesus Indy Sambasivam |
VULTURES | A COMMITTEE of vultures. Kevin Yocum |
WALRUSES | A HERD or POD of walruses. |
WASPS | A PLADGE of wasps. A PAIL A NEST Alexandra |
WATERFOWL | A BUNCH, KNOB, |
WEASELS | A **BOOGLE, GANG, *CONFUSION or PACK of weasels. ** *Wayne Bickley |
WHALES | A SCHOOL, HERD or GAM |
WIDGEON | A COMPANY or TRIP |
WILDFOWL | A BUNCH, TRIP or PLUMP |
WOLVES | A PACK or ROUT of |
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 |
ZEBRAS | A ZEAL, HERD or DAZZLE* of zebras |
Jennii Ramirez
wrote saying –Are you aware that there is a
book which lists “nouns of multitude?”It’s title is “An
Exaltation of Larks.”
Some more “unusual” terms suggested for
other species/objects/professions can be found on the following pages:
Aadvarks to Butterflies
Car mechanics to
Dung beetles
Editors to
Gunzels
Hair stylists to
Lumberjacks
Magicians to
Ornithologists
Painters to Rock
climbers
Sailors to System
administrators
Talk show hosts
to Urbanites
Vampires to
ZombiesThere are nearly 900 pages on the Hints and Things site, providing
information, hints and tips on a wide variety of subjects. I must
admit I have been very surprised to find that the pages on Collective Nouns
have proved to be some of the most popular attracting a great deal of
interest.With this in mind I thought you maybe interested to hear that there is a
book available entitled
“Flocks, Herds, Litters and Schools” by Jim McMullan in which he tries
to find the origins of some of the more popular collective nouns in a fun
and interactive manner.For a bit of fun why not check out our Fictitious
Collectives Pageand our Collectives
Poem.