COLLECTIVE NOUNS FOR GROUPS OF BRITISH BIRDS

One of the most remarkable things about the animal kingdom and yet another crazy thing about the English language is the variety of collective nouns that all mean "group".

A
auks - a raft of auks
B
bitterns - a siege of bitterns
bobolinks - a chain of bobolinks
bullfinches - a bellowing of bullfinches
buzzards - a wake of buzzards
C
capons - a mews of capons
chickens - a peep of chickens
chicks - a clutch of chicks
choughs - a clattering of choughs
coots - a covert of coots
coots - a raft of coots
cormorants - a flight of cormorants
cranes - a herd of cranes
crows - a horde of crows
crows - a hover of crows
crows - a mob of crows
crows - a murder of crows
crows - a muster of crows
crows - a parcel of crows
crows - a parliament of crows
curlews - a herd of curlews
D
dotterel - a trip of dotterel
doves - a dole of doves
doves - a flight of doves
doves - a piteousness of doves
doves - a pitying of doves
ducks (diving) - a dopping of ducks
ducks (flying) - a plump of ducks
ducks (on water) - a paddling of ducks
ducks - a badling of ducks
ducks - a flush of ducks
ducks - a raft of ducks
ducks - a sord of ducks
ducks - a team of ducks
ducks - a twack of ducks
dunlin - a fling of dunlins

E
eagles - a congress of eagles
eagles - a convocation of eagles
F
falcons - a cast of falcons
finches - a charm of finches
finches - a trembing of finches
finches - a trimming of finches
flamingos - a stand of flamingos

G
goldfinches - a drum of goldfinches
goldfinches - a troubling of goldfinches
goldfinches - a charm of goldfinches
goldfinches - a chirm of goldfinches



G (continued)
geese - a gaggle of geese
geese (flying) - a wedge of geese
geese - a nide of geese
geese - a skein of geese
geese (on water) - a plump of geese
goshawks - a flight of goshawks
grouse - a covey of grouse
grouse - a lek of grouse
grouse - a pack of grouse
guillemots - a bazaar of guillemots
guinea fowl - a confusion of guinea fowl
gulls - a colony of gulls
gulls - a screech of gulls

H
hawks (tame) - a cast of hawks
hawks (tame) -a lease of hawks
hawks - a kettle of hawks
hens - a brood of hens
herons - a siege of herons
hummingbirds - a charm of hummingbirds
J
jackdaws - a clattering of jackdaws
jackdaws - a train of jackdaws
jays -a band of jays
jays - a party of jays
jays - a scold of jays
L
lapwings - a desert of lapwings
larks - a bevy of larks
larks - an exaltation of larks
larks - an exalting of larks
M
magpies - a conventicle of magpies
magpies - a tidings of magpies
mallards - a sute of mallards
mallards - a sord of mallards
martins - a richness of martins
mudhen- a fleet of mudhen
N
nightingales - a watch of nightingales
O
owls - a parliament of owls
owls - a stare of owls
P
parrots - a company of parrots
parrots - a prattle of parrots
parrots - a pandemonium of parrots
partridges - a covey of partridges
peacocks - a muster of peacocks
peacocks - a pride of peacocks
peacocks - an ostentation of peacocks
penguins - a colony of penguins
penguins - a crèche of penguins
penguins - a huddle of penguins
penguins - a parcel of penguins
penguins - a rookery of penguins

P (continued)

pheasants - a bouquet of pheasants

pheasants - a covey of pheasants
pheasants - a nide of pheasants
pheasants -a nye of pheasants
pigeons - a kit of pigeons
pigeons - a loft of pigeons
plovers - a congregation of plovers
ptarmigan - a covey of ptarmigans

Q
quail - a bevy of quail
quail - a covey of quail
R
ravens - an unkindness of ravens
rooks - a building of rooks
rooks - a clamour of rooks
rooks - a parliament of rooks
ruffs - a hill of ruffs
S
sandpipers - a fling of sandpipers
sea fowl - a cloud of sea fowl
seagulls - a flock of seagulls
sheldrakes - a doading of sheldrakes
skylarks - an exultation of skylarks
snipe - a walk of snipe
snipe - a wisp of snipe
sparrows - a host of sparrows
sparrows - a quarrel of sparrows
sparrows - a ubiquity of sparrows
starlings - a murmuration of starlings
storks - a muster of storks
storks - a phalanx of storks
swallows - a flight of swallows
swallows - a gulp of swallows
swans - a gaggle of swans
swans (flying) - a wedge of swans
swans - a bank of swans
swans - a bevy of swans
swans - a whiteness of swans
swans - a herd of swans
swans - an eyrar of swans
swans - a gargle of swans
T
teal - a diving of teal
teal - a spring of teal
thrushes - a mutation of thrushes
turkeys - a raffle of turkeys
turkeys - a rafter of turkeys
turtle doves - a dole of turtledoves
turtle doves - a pitying of turtledoves
W
waterfowl - a knob of waterfowl
waterfowl - a plump of waterfowl
wigeon - a coil of wigeon
woodpeckers - a descent of woodpeckers
woodcocks - a fall of woodcocks
wrens - a herd of wrens

With many thanks to “British Bird Lovers” from where this collection was discovered.  Well worth visiting their web site.

British Bird Lovers is dedicated to anyone who enjoys caring for and observing wild birds. Here you will be able to find information about garden birds and bird watching in the UK.  (But also quite relevant to English speakers in the rest of Europe.) You will also be able to find a great range of products to buy including garden accessories for birds, bird food, bird-watching equipment and gifts. If you want to observe birds in habitats further afield than we have information on bird watching holidays and other activities. This site is primarily aimed at the amateur bird watcher or people who simply enjoy seeing birds in their gardens. If you wish to take your hobby further then have a look at the Useful Links page where you will find details of organisations who can give you advice.

For further information visit British Birds Lovers home site at:   http://www.britishbirdlovers.co.uk