When referring to a group of animals, most of us have heard of a “flock of birds,” a “murder of crows,” or a “parliament of owls” — but what about all of the other animal group names?
It turns out, there are hundreds — and we’ve curated them in this guide. (We believe we’ve compiled the most comprehensive list on the internet.)
For centuries, humans have come up with cute (and sometimes bizarre) names for gatherings of specific species. These are called “collective nouns.”
Published in 1486, “The Book of Saint Albans” by Juliana Berners is the most commonly attributed historical source for many of these words. We’ve also included items from the U.S. Geological Survey’s resources.
Some of these collective nouns are more common than others — but they’re all incredibly interesting nonetheless. We hope you’ll find this list compelling and helpful — and maybe even feel inspired to get involved and make a difference for animals.
P.S. Make sure to scroll to the bottom for some bonus group names for fictional creatures.
You might also like: A Complete List of Animals from A-Z | Good News About Animals
Collective Nouns for Groups of Animals
Mammals
Apes: a shrewdness
Asses: a pace
Badgers: a cete, a clan
Bats: a colony
Bears: a sloth, a sleuth
Boars: a singular
Buffalo: a gang, an obstinacy
Cats: a clowder, a pounce
Cattle: a drove, a herd
Deer: a herd
Dogs: pack (wild), cowardice (of curs)
Elephants: a herd, a parade
Elk: a gang
Ferrets: a business
Foxes: a leash, a skulk, an earth
Giraffes: a tower
Goats: a tribe, a trip
Gorillas: a band
Groundhogs: a coterie
Hares: a down, a husk
Hedgehogs: an array, a prickle
Hippopotamuses: a bloat
Horses: a team, harras, rag (colts), a stud (belonging to a single owner), a string (ponies)
Hounds: a cry, a mute, a pack, a kennel
Hyenas: a cackle
Kangaroos: a troop
Kittens: a kindle, a litter, an intrigue
Leopards: a leap
Lions: a pride
Martens: a richness
Moles: a labor
Monkeys: a troop, a barrel
Mice: a mischief
Mules: a pack, a span, a barren
Otters: a romp
Oxen: a team, a yoke
Pigs: a drift, a drove, a litter (young), sounder (of swine), a team, a passel (of hogs)
Porcupines: a prickle
Puppies: a litter
Raccoons: a gaze, a nursery
Rabbits: a colony, a warren, a nest, a herd (domestic), a litter (young)
Rhinoceroses: a crash
Roe Deer: a bevy
Seals: a pod, a herd
Sheep: a drove, a flock, a herd
Skunks: a surfeit, a kit (young), bucks (male), does (female)
Sloths: a snuggle (unofficial)
Squirrels: a dray, a scurry
Tigers: a streak
Whales: a pod, a gam, a herd
Wolves: a pack, a rout (when in movement), a route (when in movement)
Zebras: a zeal, a dazzle, a herd
Birds
Birds (in general): a flight (in the air), a flock (on the ground), a volary, a brace (gamebirds or waterfowl, referring to a pair or couple killed by a hunter)
Albatross: a rookery
Bitterns: a sedge
Buzzards: a wake
Bobolinks: a chain
Chicks (in general): a brood, a clutch
Coots: a cover
Cormorants: a gulp
Cranes: a sedge
Crows: a murder, a horde
Dotterel: a trip
Doves: a dule, a pitying (turtle doves)
Ducks: a brace, a flock (in flight), a raft (on water), a team, a paddling (on water), a badling
Eagles: a convocation
Falcons: a cast, a cauldron, a kettle
Finches: a charm
Flamingos: a stand
Geese: a flock, a gaggle (on the ground), a skein (in flight)
Grouse: a pack (in late season)
Gulls: a colony
Hawks: a cast, a kettle (flying in large numbers), a boil (two or more spiraling in flight)
Herons: a sedge, a siege
Jays: a party, a scold
Lapwings: a deceit
Larks: an exaltation
Mallards: a sord (in flight), a brace
Magpies: a tiding, a gulp, a murder, a charm
Nightingales: a watch
Owls: a parliament
Parrots: a company
Partridges: a covey
Peaco*cks: a muster, an ostentation
Pelicans: a pod, a pouch, a scoop, a squadron, a fleet (when fishing together)
Penguins: a colony, a huddle
Pheasants: a nest, a nide, a brood, a nye, a bouquet
Plovers: a congregation, a wing (in flight)
Porcupines: a prickle
Ptarmigans: a covey
Ravens: an unkindness, a flock
Rooks: a building
Quail: a bevy, a covey
Snipes: a walk, a wisp
Sparrows: a host
Starlings: a murmuration
Storks: a mustering
Swallows: a flight
Swans: a bevy, a game, a wedge (in flight)
Teals: a spring
Turkeys: a rafter, a gang
Widgeons: a company
Woodco*cks: a fall
Woodpeckers: a descent
Reptiles and Amphibians:
Cobras: a quiver
Crocodiles: a bask
Frogs: an army
Lizards: a lounge
Newts: an armada
Salamanders: a herd, a congress
Toads: a knot
Turtles: a bale, a nest
Snakes: a nest
Vipers: a nest
Fish
Fish (in general): a draft, a nest, a school, a shoal
Bass: a shoal
Blowfish: a hootie (unofficial)
Goldfish: a finny, a troubling
Herring: an army
Sharks: a shiver
Swordfish: a flotilla
Trout: a hover
Invertebrates
Ants: a colony
Bees: a grist, hive, a swarm
Butterflies: a kaleidoscope, a flutter
Caterpillars: an army
Clams: a bed
Crabs: a consortium
co*ckroaches: an intrusion
Flies: a business
Gnats: a cloud, a horde
Grasshoppers: a cloud
Hornets: a nest
Jellyfish: a smack
Lobsters: at risk
Locusts: a plague
Oysters: a bed
Snails: a hood, a rout, a walk, an escargatoire
Spiders: a cluster, a clutter
Squids: an audience
Other
Just for fun, here are the collective nouns for a few fictional creatures…
Griffins: a senate
Hippogriffs: a fulsome
Mermaids: a gossip
Sasquatches: a yearning
Unicorns: a blessing
Wookies: a grove
Yetis: a flurry
