Animal Group Names (Collective Nouns)

Animal
Albatross Antelopes Ants Apes Asses Auks Baboons Badgers Bats Bears Beavers Bees Rookery Herd, cluster, herd Nest, army, colony, state, swarm, bike Shrewdness, troop Pace, drove, herd, coffle Colony, flock, raft Troop, flange Cete, colony, set, company Colony, cloud Sloth, sleuth, slought Family, lodge, colony Swarm, cluster, nest, hive, erst, bike, cast, college, drift, game, fry, peck, rabble, stand, range, butt, spindle, grist Birds Bison Bitterns Battery, cast, congregation, covert, covey, drift, flight, fleet, flock, flush, nest, aviary Herd Flock, sedge, siege

Group Name

Bloodhounds Sute Boars Buffaloes Bullfinches Bullocks Butterflies Camels Caribou Caterpillars Cats Sounder, singular, herd Troop, herd, gang, obstinacy Bellowing Drove Rabble, flight Flock, train, caravan, herd Herd Army, nest Clowder, clutter, cluster, colony, glorying, kindle, litter, dout, parliament, seraglio, glaring, destruction (wild cats) Cattle Chicken Chinchilla Clams Cockroaches Cod Colts Cormorants Drove, herd, bow, bunch, draft, drift, flote, head, diary Brood, clutch, hatching, nest, parcel, peep, battery, flock Colony Bed Intrusion Lap Rake, rage Colony, flight

Cows Crabs Cranes Crocodiles Crows Deer Dogs Dolphins Doves Ducks Eagles Eels Elephants Elks Ferrets Finches Fish Flies Flamingoes Foxes Frogs Geese Giraffes Gnats Goats Goldfish Gorillas

Dairy, drove, pack, team Cast Flock, herd, sedge, siege, sege Bask, nest Murder, parcel, hover Herd, leash, bevy, game, quarry, bunch, mob Gang, legion, kennel, pack, stud Team, school Duet, dule, dole, flight, troop, pitying (of turtle doves) Bunch, brood, knob, raft, skein, string, mob, paddling, plump, sord, sore, team, waddling Aerie, brood, convocation, cargo Swarm, bed, bind, draft, fry, wisp Herd, flock, parade Gang, herd Business Chirm, charm School, shoal, haul, draught, run, catch, cran, flote, flutter, cast, throw, warp Business, hatch, grist, swarm, community, fare, rabble, cloud Stand Cloud, skulk, brace, leash, troop, earth Army, colony, froggery Gaggle, clutch, flock, line, skein, nide, wedge Herd, corps, troop, tower Swarm, cloud, horde, plague, rabble Flock, trip, herd, tribe Troubling Band

Grasshoppers Cloud Hares Hawks Hedgehogs Hens Hippopotami Hornets Horses Insects Down, flick, huske, kindle, tripp, drove, warren, dun Aerie, brood, cast, leash, mews, staff Nest, array Battery, brood, parcel, roost, mews, concatenation Bloat, school, pod, herd Nest, bike, swarm Haras, stud, herd, string, field, set, team, stable, mews, mob, parcel, rag, slate Horde, nest, swarm, rabble, plague

Jackrabbits Jellyfish Kangaroos Larks Leopards Lice Lions Locusts Magpies Mallard Mice Midges Minnows Moles Monkeys Moose Mosquitoes Mules Nightingales Otters Owls Oxen Oysters Parrots Peacocks Pekingese Penguins Pigeons Pigs Porpoises Quail Rabbits Racoons Ravens Reindeer Rhinoceros

Husk Smuck, fluther, smack, stuck, smuth, brood Troop, mob, herd Bevy, exaltation, flight, wisp Leap Flock Pride, troop, flock, sawt, souse Swarm, cloud, plague Tiding, tittering Flush, lute, puddling, sord, sute Nest, colony, harvest Bite Shoal, steam, or swarm Company, labour, citadel (of mole burrows) Troop, cartload, tribe Herd Scourge Barren, span, mulada, rake Watch, flock, route Bevy, lodge, family Parliament, stare Team, yoke, drove, or herd Bed, cast, clam, hive, set Company, flock, pandemonium Pride, muster, ostentation Pomp Parcel, rookery Flight, flock, loft Drove, fare, litter, flock, hoggery, sounder, nest of trotters School, crowd, herd, shoal, gam, pod, turmoil Bevy, covey, jug Bevy, bury (of conies), flick, kindle, nest, game, warren, colony Nursery Unkindness Herd Crash, stubbornness, herd

Rooks Salmon Sardines Scorpions Seals Sharks Sheep Snails Snakes Spiders Squirrels Starlings Stoats Storks Swallows Swans Swine Tigers Toads Trout Turkeys Turtles Vipers Vultures Walruses Wasps Weasels Whales Wildfowl Wolves

Building, clamour, congregation, council, pack, shoal, wing Run, bind Family Bed, nest Pod, herd, trip, rookery, flock, plump, harem School or shoal Flock, hirsel, drove trip, drift, fold, hurtle, parcel, mob, down, pack Escargatoire, rout, walk Bed, knot, den, pit Cluster, clutter Drey, colony Cloud, chattering, murmuration, clattering Pack, trip Flight, mustering, phalanx Flight, gulp, rush Flock, bevy, bank, eyrar, drift, game, herd, sownder, team, wedge Sounder, drift, herd, trip, drone, singular (of boars) Ambush Knot, nest, knob Hover, leash, troup Duet, crop, posse, rafter, gang Bale, dole, turn, dule nest Carpets, cast, drove, flock, herd Pod, herd, huddle Nest, knot, knab, bike, swarm Pack School, gam, mob, pod, herd, plump, run, flote, shoal Lute, plump, scry, skein, sord, trip Rout, route, pack, head, horde

Woodpeckers Descent Worms Zebras Bed, clew, bunch, clat Herd, zeal, cohorts

1. 2. 3. 4.

shrewdness of apes army/column/state/swarm of ants herd/pace of asses troop of baboons

5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66.

cete/colony of badgers sloth of bears cluster/swarm/drift/hive/erst of bees flock/flight/pod of birds chatter of budgerigars herd/gang/obstinancy of buffalo bellowing of bullfinches drove of bullocks caravan/flock of camels army of caterpillars chowder/clowder/cluster/glaring of cats herd/drove of cattle brood/clutch/peep of chickens chattering of choughs rag/rake of colts covert of coots herd of cranes bask of crocodiles clan/hover/murder of crows litter of cubs herd of curlew herd/mob of deer cowardice/pack/kennel of dogs pod/school of dolphins trip of dotterel flight/dole/piteousness/prettying of doves paddling of ducks (on water) safe of ducks (on land) fling of dunlins convocation of eagles swarm of eels herd/parade of elephants herd/gang of elk cast of falcons busyness/cast/fesynes of ferrets charm of finches shoal/run of fish flurry/regiment/skein of flamingoes business/cloud/scraw/swarm of flies earth/lead/skulk of foxes gaggle of geese (on land) skein/team/wedge of geese (in flight) corps/herd/troop/kalaedescope of giraffes cloud of gnats flock/herd/trip of goats charm/chattering/chirp/drum of goldfinch troubling of goldfish band of gorillas cloud of grasshoppers brace/leash/pack of greyhounds brood/pack/covey of grouse down/drove/husk/lie/trip/mute/husk of hares cast of hawks array of hedgehogs scattering/sedge/siege of herons army/gleam/shoal of herring bloat/pod of hippopotami drove/string/stud/team of horses pack/cry/kennel of hounds crowd of ibis flight/swarm of insects brood/fluther/smuck of jellyfish

67. herd/mob/troop of kangaroos 68. kindle/litter of kittens 69. deceit/desert of lapwings 70. bevy/exaltation of larks 71. leap/lepe of leopards 72. flock/pride/sawt/souse/troop of lions 73. tiding/tittering of magpies 74. sord/suit of mallard 75. stud of mares 76. richesse of martens 77. nest of mice 78. company/labour/movement/mumble of moles 79. troop of monkeys 80. cartload/pack/span/barren of mules 81. match/puddling/watch of nightingales 82. flock of ostrich 83. bevy/family of otters 84. parliament/stare of owls 85. yoke of oxen 86. pandemonium of parrots 87. covey of partridges 88. muster of peacocks 89. muster/parcel/rookery of penguins 90. brook/bevy/head/ostentation/pride/nye of pheasants 91. kit of pigeons (in flight) 92. farrow of piglets 93. litter/herd of pigs 94. congregation/flight/stand/wing of plovers 95. rush/flight of pochards 96. pod/school/herd/turmoil of porpoises 97. covey of ptarmigan 98. litter of pups 99. bevy/covey/drift of quail 100. bury/colony/nest/warren of rabbits 101. nursery of raccoons 102. string of racehorses 103. colony of rats 104. unkindness of ravens 105. crash of rhinoceros 106. bevy of roe deer 107. parliament/building/clamour/rookery of rooks 108. hill of ruffs 109. family of sardines 110. pod/harem/herd/rookery of seals 111. flock/herd/trip/mob of sheep 112. dopping of sheldrake 113. den/pit/nest of snakes 114. walk/wisp/whisper/wish of snipe 115. host/surration/quarrel of sparrows 116. cluster/clutter of spiders 117. drey of squirrels 118. chattering/crowd/murmation of starlings 119. flight of swallows 120. bank/bevy/game/herd/squadron, teeme/wedge/whiteness of swans (on land) 121. drift/herd/sounder of swine 122. spring of teal 123. mutation of thrush 124. ambush of tigers 125. knab/knot of toads 126. hover of trout 127. dule/raffle/rafter of turkeys 128. bale/turn of turtles

129. herd/nest/pledge of wasps 130. bunch/knob of waterfowl 131. colony/school/herd/pod/gam of whales 132. company/trip of wigeon 133. sounder of wild boar 134. dout/destruction of wild cats 135. team of wild ducks (in flight) 136. bunch/trip/plump/knob of wildfowl 137. pack/rout of wolves 138. covey/fall/flight/plump of woodcock 139. descent of woodpeckers 140. herd of wrens 141. zeal of zebras

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

TERM

Melissa Bee

An ARMY of ants. A STATE or SWARM of ants. A SHREWDNESS of apes A HERD or PACE of asses A DROVE of asses. A TROOP of baboons
Michael Haberl

APES ASSES

BABOONS

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&po storder=asc&start=15&sid=764b6eda4eab5327541dcc71faae 5e12 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 BARRACUDAS BASS

A CETE of badgers A BATTERY of barracudas. A SHOAL of bass.

Melissa Bee.

BATS

A COLONY of bats.
Melissa Bee.

A CLOUD of bats.
Keith Harris

BEARS BEAVERS

A SLOTH or SLEUTH of bears A COLONY of beavers. A FAMILY of beavers. A GRIST, HIVE, SWARM, DRIFT or BIKE of bees A CLUSTER, ERST or NEST of bees. 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

BEES

BIRDS

BISON BITTERNS

A HERD of bison. 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. A BRACE OR CLASH of bucks.
Michael Haberl

BUCK

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 BULLOCKS BUTTERFLIES

A HERD, TROUP, GANG or OBSTINACY of buffalo A DROVE of bullocks. 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 CARIBOU CATERPILLARS

A CARAVAN, FLOCK or TRAIN of camels. A HERD of caribou. 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. A CLOWDER of cats. (sent in by Paul Chapin) A POUNCE of cats. A KINDLE, LITTER OR INTRIGUE (for kittens)
Melissa Bee

CATS

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 CHICKS

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

Michael Haberl

CHOUGHS CLAMS

A CHATTERING of choughs. A BED of clams

Clyde Hogendobler

COATI (COATIMUNDI) COBRAS

A BAND of coati (coatimundi) A QUIVER of cobras

Michael Haberl

COCKROACHES

An INTRUSION of cockroaches.
Melissa Bee

COLTS COOTS

A RAG of colts. 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

ald Kross

Don

A BAND of coyotes
Haberl

Michael

A ROUT of coyotes
Stockwell

Bud

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 CURLEW CURS

A LITTER of cubs A HERD of curlew 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 dogfish

DOGS

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

Melissa Bee

DOTTEREL

A TRIP of dotterel.

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

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

DUNLINS EAGLES

A FLING of dunlins 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 EMUS

A HERD of elk. A GANG of elk (US) 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-aboutferrets.com/collective-noun-for-ferrets.html

FINCHES FISH

A CHARM of finches 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. A KNOT of frogs.

Michael Haberl

Luke Fewings

GEESE

GERBILS GIRAFFES

A GAGGLE or FLOCK of geese. A SKEIN, TEAM or WEDGE of geese (in the air) A PLUMP of geese (on water) A HORDE of gerbils. 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) A CHARM of goldfinches. A TROUBLING of goldfish. A BAND of gorillas
Clyde Hogendobler

GOLDFINCHES GOLDFISH GORILLAS

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&pos torder=asc&start=15&sid=764b6eda4eab5327541dcc71faae 5e12 A CLOUD of grasshoppers. A LEASH of greyhounds. A PACK or COVEY of grouse A BAZAAR of guillemots.

GRASSHOPPERS GREYHOUNDS GROUSE 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.

Alexandra Bylczynski

HAWKS

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

Melissa Bee

HEDGEHOGS HENS HERONS

An ARRAY of hedgehogs. A BROOD of hens. 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, JD

HYENAS

A CACKLE of hyenas.
Melissa Bee

INSECTS JACKRABBITS JAYS

A SWARM of insects A HUSK of jackrabbits. A PARTY or SCOLD of jays.

Melissa Bee

JELLYFISH KANGAROOS KITTENS LADYBIRDS (LADYBUGS/LADYBEETLES) LAPWINGS

A BROOD, SMUCK or SMACK of jellyfish. A MOB or TROOP of kangaroos A KENDLE, KINDLE or LITTER of kittens. A LOVELINESS of ladybirds.
Sent in by Simon Odell - not authenticated but too nice to omit.

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 LIONS

A FLOCK of lice. A PRIDE, FLOCK, SAWT, SOUSE, or TROOP of lions. A SAULT of lions.
Alexandra Bylczynski

LOCUSTS LOONS

A CLOUD, PLAGUE or SWARM of locusts. 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." A TITTERING, TIDING, GULP, MURDER or CHARM* of magpies.
* Melissa Bee

MAGPIES

MALLARDS

A SORD or BRACE* of mallards.

Elazar Friedman * Melissa Bee

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

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

MINNOWS MOLES

A MISCHIEF of mice. A HORDE of mice. A HARVEST of mice. A COLONY of mice. A NEST of mice. A STEAM of minnows. A LABOUR of moles.
Phillip Joss

MONGOOSES

A BUSINESS of mongooses.
Steve Rundstrom

MONKEYS

A TROOP, CARTLOAD or BARREL* of monkeys

* Melissa Bee

MOOSE MOSQUITOES MULES

A HERD of moose. A SCOURGE of mosquitoes. 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 PEACOCKS

A COVEY of partridges 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

PENGUINS

A POD or SCOOP of pelicans. 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)

Alexandra Bylczynski

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 pigs A DRIFT, DROVE, SOUNDER (swine), TEAM, PASSEL (hog s)*
* Melissa Bee

PLOVERS PONIES PORCUPINES

A STAND, WING OR CONGREGATION of plovers A DROVE OR STRING of ponies. A PRICKLE of porcupines.

* Melissa Bee

PORPOISES PRAIRIE DOGS

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

Ken

PTARMIGAN PUPS

A COVEY of Ptarmigan 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), LITT ER (young) of rabbits.

* Melissa Bee

A TRACE of rabbits.
Alexandra Bylczynski 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". A GAZE of raccoons.
Chris Lam

RACCOONS

RACEHORSES RATS

A NURSERY of raccoons. A STRING of racehorses 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 ROOKS

A BEVY of roebucks. 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 SARDINES SASQUATCH

A HILL of ruffs A FAMILY of sardines. 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!!!!) A RAFT of sea otters Donald
Cheek.

SEA OTTERS 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 seals A 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 SPARROWS

A WISP or WALK of snipe 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 TADPOLES

A HERD, DRIFT OR SOUNDER of swine A CLOUD of tadpoles.

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

TEAL TERMITES THRUSHES TIGERS

A SPRING of teal. A BROOD, COLONY, NEST OR SWARM of termites. A MUTATION of thrushes. An AMBUSH or STREAK* of tigers.
* Melissa Bee

TOADS

A KNOT or KNAB of toads

Clyde Hogendobler

TORTOISES TROUT TURKEYS

A CREEP of tortoises. A HOVER of trout. 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" A NEST of vipers. Mel
issa Bee

VIPERS

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 WASPS

A HERD or POD of walruses. A PLADGE of wasps. A PAIL of wasps. A NEST of wasps.

Alexandra Bylczynski

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

WIDGEON WILDFOWL

A SCHOOL, HERD or GAM of whales A POD of whales (small school) A GRIND of bottle nose whales A COMPANY or TRIP of widgeon A BUNCH, TRIP or PLUMP of wildfowl. A KNOB of wildfowl (less than 30)

WOLVES WOMBATS

A PACK or ROUT of wolves A WISDOM of wombats.

Andy Williams

WOODCOCKS WOODPECKERS WORMS WRENS

A FALL of woodcocks. A DESCENT of woodpeckers. A CLEW of worms. A HERD of wrens A CHIME of wrens
p Joss

Philli

ZEBRAS

A ZEAL, HERD or DAZZLE* of zebras

* Raila and Jon Foley