Collective Nouns for Animals

by Craig Shrives

300 Collective Nouns for Animals

The collective nouns for animals are often bizarre (e.g., an "opera" of canaries, a "whoop" of chimpanzees).

While most of us know that the collective noun for ants is an "army," and the collective noun for lions is a "pride," finding the collective noun for a group of lesser-known animals is more challenging. For example, did you know that a group of armadillos is called a "roll" and a group of crickets is called an "orchestra"?

Table of Contents

  • Fanciful Collective Nouns
  • 300 Collective Nouns for Animals
  • Printable Test
  • Learn with Hangman!

Fanciful Collective Nouns

Unfortunately, there are lots of fanciful collective nouns, particularly for animals, now circulating (e.g., a "dazzle" of zebras, a "galaxy" of starfish), and it has become difficult to establish whether these are acceptable in formal writing. If a collective noun seems overly clever or poetic, it is worth investigating whether it is a genuine collective noun before including it in a formal, scientific document. If you're writing verse or fiction, you are far safer to use a collective noun that is suspiciously fanciful.

Definition of Collective Noun

Remember that a collective noun is a word used to represent a group of people, animals, or things.
collective nouns for animals

300 Collective Nouns for Animals

Here is a list of 300 collective nouns for animals.

Just for fun, we've added game of hangman, which selects a word from this list as the secret word.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

    A

  • aardvarks
    an armoury of aardvarks
  • adders
    a nest of adders
    • (A group of adders is also listed as a sum, but this is a fanciful word, i.e., clearly made up and not a recognized collective noun for adders.)
  • albatrosses
    a rookery of albatrosses
    (A group of albatrosses is also called a flock, flight, gam, or weight.)
  • alligators
    a congregation of alligators
    (A group of alligators is also called a bask.)
  • alpacas
    a herd of alpacas
    (A group of alpacas is also called a flock.)
  • amoebas
    an ooze of amoebas
  • antelopes
    a herd of antelopes
    (A group of antelopes is also called a cluster or tribe.)
  • an army of ants
    (A group of ants is also called a colony, nest, or swarm.)
  • a troop of apes
    (A group of apes is also called a shrewdness.)
  • armadillos
    a roll of armadillos
  • asses
    a herd of asses
  • auks
    a raft of auks
    (A group of apes is also called a colony.)
  • avocets
    a colony of avocets

    • B

  • a troop of baboons
  • bacteria
    a culture of bacteria
  • a cete of badgers
  • barracuda
    a battery of barracuda
  • bass
    a fleet of bass
  • a colony of bats
  • a sloth of bears
    (A group of bears is also called a sleuth.)
  • beavers
    a colony of beavers
  • a hive of bees
    (A group of bees is also called a swarm, bike, or drift.)
  • a flock of birds
    (A group of birds is also called a colony (roosting in large numbers), drift (in flight), rush (migrating), or dissimulation (small birds).)
  • bison
    a gang of bison
  • bitterns
    a sedge of bitterns
    (A group of bitterns is also called a siege or a pretence.)
  • a cloud of blackbirds
    (A group of blackbirds is also called a grind.)
  • bloodhounds
    a sute of bloodhounds
  • boars
    a herd of boars
  • bucks
    a herd of bucks
  • budgerigars
    a flock of budgerigars
  • buffalo
    a herd of buffalo
    (A group of buffalo is also called a gang.)
  • bullfinches
    a bellowing of bullfinches
  • bullocks
    a drove of bullocks
  • bustards
    a flock of bustards
  • butterflies
    a flight of butterflies
    (A group of butterflies is also called a wing.)
  • a wake of buzzards

    • C

  • camels
    a flock of camels
    (A group of camels is also called a herd, caravan, or train.)
  • canaries
    an opera of canaries
  • capercaillie
    a tok of capercaillie
  • caterpillars
    an army of caterpillars
  • a clowder of cats
    (A group of cats is also called a cluster, litter (kittens of the same mother), destruction (wild cats), or nuisance.)
  • a herd of cattle
    (A group of cattle is also called a mob, drift, or drove (when being driven).)
  • cheetahs
    a coalition of cheetahs
  • a brood of chickens
    (A group of chickens is also called a flock, clutch (chicks from the same mother), or peep (fanciful).)
  • a whoop of chimpanzees
  • chinchillas
    a herd of chinchillas
  • choughs
    a chattering of choughs
    (A group of choughs is also called a clattering.)
  • clams
    a bed of clams
  • cobras
    a quiver of cobras
  • cockatoos
    a chattering of cockatoos
  • cockroaches
    an intrusion of cockroaches
  • coots
    a covert of coots
    (A group of coots is also called a raft or commotion.)
  • a flight of cormorants
  • a herd of cows
  • coyotes
    a band of coyotes
  • crabs
    a scuttle of crabs
  • cranes
    a herd of cranes
    (A group of cranes is also called a sedge, siege, or horde.)
  • crickets
    an orchestra of crickets
  • crocodiles
    a bask of crocodiles
  • a murder of crows
    (A group of crows is also called a horde, hover, mob, muster, parcel, or parliament.)
  • cubs
    a litter of cubs
  • curlews
    a herd of curlews

    • D

  • deer
    a herd of deer
  • dinosaurs
    a herd of dinosaurs
  • dodos
    an extinction of dodos
  • a pack of dogs
    (A group of dogs is also called a brace (two) or leash (three).)
  • a pod of dolphins
    (A group of dolphins is also called a school or herd.)
  • a herd of donkeys
    (A group of donkeys is also called a pace.)
  • dotterels
    a trip of dotterels
  • doves
    a dole of doves
    (A group of doves is also called a bevy, flight, piteousness, or pitying.)
  • dragons
    a flight of dragons
  • ducklings
    a fleet of ducklings
  • a flock of ducks
    (A group of ducks is also called a paddling (on water), raft (on water), dopping (when diving), plump (when flying), badling, flush, sord, team, or twack.)
  • dunlins
    a fling of dunlins
    (The term "fling" refers to dunlins in flight.)

    • E

  • a convocation of eagles
    (A group of eagles is also called a congress.)
  • a swarm of eels
  • a congregation of egrets
    (A group of egrets is also called a wedge.)
  • a herd of elephants
  • elk
    a gang of elk
    (A group of elk is also called a herd.)
  • elves
    a drove of elves
  • a mob of emus

    • F

  • falcons
    a cast of falcons
    (The term cast refers specifically to a pair released after a game bird. A group of falcons is also called a soar or a tower.)
  • a business of ferrets
  • a charm of finches
    (A group of finches is also called a trembling, trimming, or chirm.)
  • fireflies
    a conflagration of fireflies
  • a shoal of fish
    (A group of fish is also called a school or run (moving upstream for spawning).)
  • a stand of flamingos
    (A group of flamingos is also called a flamboyance.)
  • a swarm of flies
  • fowl
    a roost of fowl
    (A group of fowl is also called a skein (in flight), plump, or trip.)
  • an earth of foxes
    (A group of foxes is also called a leash (three) or skulk.)
  • a knot of frogs
    (A group of frogs is also called an army.)
  • fur seals
    a harem of seals
    (The term harem refers specifically to a group of female seals belonging to one male.)

    • G

  • a gaggle of geese
    (A group of geese is also called a flock, skein (in flight), or wedge (in v formation in flight).)
  • geldings
    a clipping of geldings
  • gerbils
    a horde of gerbils
  • a herd of giraffes
  • gnats
    a cloud of gnats
  • gnus
    a herd of gnus
  • a flock of goats
    (A group of goats is also called a herd or trip.)
  • a charm of goldfinches
    (A group of goldfinches is also called a pantheon, drum, troubling, or chirm.)
  • goldfish
    a glint of goldfish
  • a band of gorillas
  • goshawks
    a flight of goshawks
  • goslings
    a skein of goslings
  • grasshoppers
    a cloud of grasshoppers
  • greyhounds
    a leash of greyhounds
  • griffins
    a pride of griffins
  • grouse
    a pack of grouse
    (A group of grouse is also called a covey, brace (two), or lek.)
  • guillemots
    a bazaar of guillemots
  • guinea fowl
    a confusion of guinea fowl
  • a herd of guinea pigs
  • gulls
    a colony of gulls
    (A group of gulls is also called a screech.)

    • H

  • a horde of hamsters
  • a down of hares
    (A group of hares is also called a huske or leash (three).)
  • a cast of hawks
    (The term "cast" refers specifically to a pair of hawks released after a game bird. A group of hawks is also called a kettle (riding a thermal) or leash (three).)
  • a prickle of hedgehogs
  • a brood of hens
  • a siege of herons
    (A group of herons is also called a glean, sedge, or station.)
  • herrings
    a glean of herrings
  • a bloat of hippopotamuses
  • hogs
    a sounder of hogs
  • hornets
    a swarm of hornets
    (A group of hornets is also called a nest.)
  • a herd of horses
    (A group of horses is also called a harras, span (a team of two), or string.)
  • hounds
    a pack of hounds
    (A group of hounds is also called a mute, brace (two), leash (three), or cry.)
  • hummingbirds
    a charm of hummingbirds
  • a clan of hyenas

    • I

  • ibises
    a colony of ibises
  • a mess of iguanas
  • a colony of insects
  • insects (flying)
    a swarm of insects
    (A group of flying insects is also called a cloud.)

    • J

  • jackals
    a pack of jackals
    (A group of jackals is also called a skulk.)
  • a band of jackdaws
    (A group of jackdaws is also called a clattering or train.)
  • a prowl of jaguars
  • a band of jays
    • (A group of jays is also called a party or scold.)
  • a smack of jellyfish
    (A group of jellyfish is also called a fluther.)

    • K

  • a mob of kangaroos
    (A group of kangaroos is also called a troop or court.)
  • kestrels
    a hover of kestrels
  • a pod of whales
  • a realm of kingfishers
    (A group of kingfishers is also called a crown or concentration.)
  • a litter of kittens
    (A group of kittens is also called a kindle.)
  • knots
    a cluster of knots

    • L

  • ladybirds
    a loveliness of ladybirds
  • lambs
    a fall of lambs
  • a desert of lapwings
    (A group of lapwings is also called a deceit.)
  • a bevy of larks
    (A group of larks is also called an exaltation or exalting.)
  • a conspiracy of lemurs
  • a leap of leopards
  • leverets
    a kindle of leverets
  • lice
    a colony of lice
  • a pride of lions
  • lizards
    a lounge of lizards
  • a herd of llamas
  • lobsters
    a risk of lobsters
  • locusts
    a plague of locusts
  • lovebirds
    a pair of lovebirds

    • M

  • mackerel
    a shoal of mackerel
    (A group of mackerel is also called a school.)
  • a tiding of magpies
    (A group of magpies is also called a conventicle, gulp, mischief, or tittering.)
  • mallards
    a sord of mallards
    (A group of mallards is also called a flush or a sute.)
  • mares
    a stud of mares
  • martens
    a richness of martens
  • a clan of meerkats
  • merlins
    a cast of merlins
    (The term cast refers specifically to a pair released after a game bird.)
  • a nest of mice
  • midges
    a swarm of midges
    (A group of midges is also called a bite.)
  • minnows
    a shoal of minnows
    (A group of minnows is also called a stream.)
  • mockingbirds
    an impression of mockingbirds
  • a labour of moles
    (A group of moles is also called a company.)
  • a band of mongooses
  • mongrels
    a ménage of mongrels
  • a troop of monkeys
  • moorhens
    a flock of moorhens
    (A group of moorhens is also called a plump.)
  • a herd of moose
  • mosquitoes
    a swarm of mosquitoes
    (A group of mosquitoes is also called a scourge.)
  • moths
    an eclipse of moths
  • mules
    a barren of mules
    (A group of mules is also called a span (a team of two) or string.)
  • mussels
    a bed of mussels

    • N

  • a pod of narwhals
    (A group of narwhals is also called a school.)
  • an armada of newts
  • a watch of nightingales
  • a booby of nuthatches

    • O

  • a consortium of octopuses
  • a buffoonery of orangutans
  • a flock of ostriches
  • a bevy of otters
  • a parliament of owls
    (A group of owls is also called a stare, study, or wisdom.)
  • oystercatchers
    a parcel of oystercatchers
  • oxen
    a herd of oxen
    (A group of oxen is also called a drove, span, or a team.)
  • a bed of oysters

    • P

  • pandas
    an embarrassment of pandas
  • a company of parrots
    (A group of parrots is also called a prattle or pandemonium.)
  • partridges
    a covey of partridges
  • a muster of peacocks
    (A group of peacocks is also called an ostentation or pride.)
  • peasants
    a toil of peasants
    (A group of peasants is also called a bouquet, covey, nide, or nye.)
  • pelicans
    a squadron of pelicans
    (A group of pelicans is also called a scoop.)
  • penguins
    a colony of penguins
    (A group of penguins is also called an creche, huddle, parcel, or rookery.)
  • perch
    a pack of perch
  • a bazaar of peregrines
    (A group of peregrines is also called a eyrie, ringing, stooping up, or tower.)
  • a bevy of pheasants
    (A group of pheasants is also called a bouquet (when flushed), or nye.)
  • a flock of pigeons
    (A group of pigeons is also called a litter, kit or loft.)
  • piglets
    a litter of piglets
  • pigs
    a herd of pigs
  • pilchards
    a shoal of pilchards
    (A group of pilchards is also called a school.)
  • pintails
    a knob of pintails
  • pipers
    a poverty of pipers
  • plovers
    a congregations of plovers
    (A group of plovers is also called a wing.)
  • pochard
    a flock of pochard
    (A group of pochard is also called a rush.)
  • a celebration of polar bears
  • polecats
    a chine of polecats
  • a string of ponies
  • poodles
    a salon of poodles
  • porcupines
    a prickle of porcupines
  • porpoises
    a pod of porpoises
    (A group of porpoises is also called a school or herd.)
  • possums
    a passel of possums
  • poultry
    a run of poultry
  • prairie dogs
    a coterie of dogs
  • ptarmigans
    a parliament of ptarmigans
  • puffins
    a raft of puffins
  • pugs
    a grumble of pugs
  • pumas
    a prowl of pumas
  • puppies
    a litter of puppies

    • Q

  • a bevy of quails
    (A group of quail is also called a covey.)

    • R

  • a colony of rabbits
    (A group of rabbits is also called a berry.)
  • a gaze of raccoons
  • racehorses
    a string of racehorses
  • rams
    a battery of rams
  • a swarm of rats
    (A group of rats is also called a pack.)
  • rattlesnakes
    a rhumba of rattlesnakes
  • an unkindness of ravens
    (A group of ravens is also called a constable.)
  • redwing
    a crowd of redwing
  • reindeer
    a herd of reindeer
  • a crash of rhinoceroses
  • a blush of robins
    (A group of robins is also called a blush, bobbin (fanciful), breast, carol (fanciful), gift, reliant (funny), riot, rouge, round, ruby, or worm (especially in America).
  • roe deer
    a bevy of deer
  • a parliament of rooks
    (A group of rooks is also called a building or clamour.)
  • ruffs
    a hill of ruffs

    • S

  • salmon
    a bind of salmon
  • sandpipers
    a fling of sandpipers
    (A group of sandpipers is also called a bind, cluster, contradiction, or hill.)
  • sardines
    a shoal of sardines
    (A group of sardines is also called a school or family.)
  • sea horses
    a herd of horses
  • a colony of seagulls
    (A group of seagulls is also called a flock.)
  • a herd of seals
    (A group of seals is also called a plump or spring.)
  • shad
    a shoal of shad
  • a school of sharks
  • a flock of sheep
    (A group of sheep is also called a herd, fold, or wing.)
  • shelducks
    a dopping of shelducks
  • shrimps
    a troupe of shrimps
  • skunks
    a stench of skunks
  • skylarks
    an exultation of skylarks
  • sloths
    a slumber of sloths
  • slugs
    a cornucopia of slugs
  • snails
    a rout of snails
  • a den of snakes
  • snipe
    a whisper of snipe
    (A group of snipe is also called a walk or wisp.)
  • a host of sparrows
    (A group of sparrows is also called a host or ubiquity.)
  • a cluster of spiders
  • a scurry of squirrels
    (A group of squirrels is also called a dray (a nest).)
  • starfish
    a galaxy of starfish
  • a murmuration of starlings
  • sticklebacks
    a spread of sticklebacks
  • stingrays
    a fever of stingrays
  • stoats
    a pack of stoats
  • storks
    a muster of storks
  • swallows
    a flight of swallows
  • a bevy of swans
    (A group of swans is also called a bank or wedge (in V formation in flight).)
  • swifts
    a flock of swifts
  • swine
    a drift of swine
    (A group of swine is also called a sounder (wild swine), or trip(tame swine).)
  • swordfish
    a flotilla of swordfish

    • T

  • tapirs
    a candle of tapirs
  • termites
    a colony of termites
  • terriers
    a terror of terriers
  • thrushes
    a mutation of thrushes
  • a streak of tigers
  • a knot of toads
  • a creep of tortoises
  • a durante of toucans
  • trout
    a hover of trout
  • a rafter of turkeys
    (A group of turkeys is also called a raffle.)
  • turtle doves
    a pitying of turtle doves
    (A group of turtle doves is also called a dole.)
  • a bale of turtles

    • U

  • unicorns
    a blessing of unicorns

    • V

  • a nest of vipers
  • a colony of voles
  • a wake of vultures

    • W

  • wallabies
    a mob of wallabies
  • walruses
    a herd of walruses
  • warthogs
    a sounder of warthogs
  • a swarm of wasps
    (A group of wasps is also called a nest.)
  • waterfowl
    a knob of waterfowl
    (The term knob refers to a group of less than 30 waterfowl. A group of waterfowl is also called a raft (on water) or bunch.)
  • weasels
    a sneak of weasels
  • a pod of whales
    (A group of whales is also called a school, plump, herd, or gam.)
  • widgeon
    a company of widgeon
    (A group of widgeon is also called a coil.)
  • wild boars
    a sounder of boars
  • wild horses
    a herd of wild horses
  • wildcats
    a destruction of wildcats
  • willows
    a bend of willows
  • a pack of wolves
    (A group of wolves is also called a rout.)
  • wombats
    a mob of wombats
  • woodcocks
    a fall of woodcocks
  • a descension of woodpeckers
    (A group of woodpeckers is also called a descent.)
  • a clew of worms
  • a herd of wrens

    • X

  • Y

  • yaks
    a herd of yaks
    (A group of yaks is also called a cabinet.)
  • yellowhammers
    a flock of yellowhammers

    • Z

  • a herd of zebras
    (A group of zebras is also listed as a dazzle, but this is a fanciful word, i.e., clearly made up and not a recognized collective noun for zebras.)

Infographic for Collective Nouns

This is a list of collective nouns for animals, but don't forget that there are also collective nouns for people and things.
list of collective nouns
Learn more about collective nouns.

Printable Test

Learn with Hangman!

Hangman is a classic word game. In this version, the hidden word is always the plural name of an animal (e.g., dogs) or a collective noun (e.g., pack). (Choose your first letter to start.)
  • Guess the hidden word by choosing one letter at a time.
  • If you guess a letter in the hidden word, then all is good.
  • If you guess a letter that is not in the hidden word, then the hangman starts to build the gallows.
  • If the gallows are completed, you lose.
  • Good luck!

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See Also

100+ common collective nouns Parts of Speech Lists

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