Collective Noun for Swans

What Is a Group of Swans Called?

A group of swans on land is most commonly called a "bevy." Occasionally, you might come across the terms "herd" and "bank" too. The term "bank" is typically used when the swans are at rest on the riverbank. Here are some other terms for a group of swans:

Wedge or flock. When flying, a group of swans can be called a "flock" or a "wedge." The term "wedge" refers to swans flying in a V formation.
Flotilla or armada. A "flotilla" or an "armada" is used for swans on the water.

It is worth bearing in mind that it is becoming increasingly difficult to determine the traditional collective noun for many animals (i.e., the words that might appear in a dictionary) because writers and poets so often invent their own to paint a picture for their readers. Such poetic or fanciful terms tend to capture the public imagination, and they quickly challenge the traditional collective nouns as the "rightful" ones. As a general rule, if a collective noun seems too fanciful or cute, then you are likely looking at a non-traditional collective noun, i.e., one invented by a writer applying a metaphor.

For swans, the following collective nouns are deemed to be fanciful: wedge, flotilla, and armada. Of course, unless you're writing a scientific paper, there is no need to avoid these words. If you're writing a descriptive text or verse, then one of these words might be a perfect fit. You can even invent one of your own.

Collective Noun	Usage
bevy	a bevy of swans

bevy of swans

Other Words for a Group of Swans

While bevy is the most common collective noun for swans, a group of swans is also called a bank or wedge (in V formation in flight).

What Type of Word is "Bevy"?

The word "bevy" is a collective noun. A collective noun is a word used to represent a group of people, animals, or things.

"Bevy Is" or "Bevy Are"?

Writers are often unsure whether to treat a collective noun like "bevy" as singular or plural. As a general rule, you should treat a collective noun as singular. However, if the context of your sentence focuses on the individuals within the group, you should treat it as plural. For example: