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Collective Nouns for Animals
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.
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.
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- aardvarksan armoury of aardvarks
- addersa 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.)
- albatrossesa rookery of albatrosses(A group of albatrosses is also called a flock, flight, gam, or weight.)
- alligatorsa congregation of alligators(A group of alligators is also called a bask.)
- alpacasa herd of alpacas(A group of alpacas is also called a flock.)
- amoebasan ooze of amoebas
- antelopesa 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.)
- armadillosa roll of armadillos
- assesa herd of asses
- auksa raft of auks(A group of apes is also called a colony.)
- avocetsa colony of avocets
- a troop of baboons
- bacteriaa culture of bacteria
- a cete of badgers
- barracudaa battery of barracuda
- bassa fleet of bass
- a colony of bats
- a sloth of bears(A group of bears is also called a sleuth.)
- beaversa 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).)
- bisona gang of bison
- bitternsa 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.)
- bloodhoundsa sute of bloodhounds
- boarsa herd of boars
- bucksa herd of bucks
- budgerigarsa flock of budgerigars
- buffaloa herd of buffalo(A group of buffalo is also called a gang.)
- bullfinchesa bellowing of bullfinches
- bullocksa drove of bullocks
- bustardsa flock of bustards
- butterfliesa flight of butterflies(A group of butterflies is also called a wing.)
- a wake of buzzards
- camelsa flock of camels(A group of camels is also called a herd, caravan, or train.)
- canariesan opera of canaries
- capercailliea tok of capercaillie
- caterpillarsan 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).)
- cheetahsa 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
- chinchillasa herd of chinchillas
- choughsa chattering of choughs(A group of choughs is also called a clattering.)
- clamsa bed of clams
- cobrasa quiver of cobras
- cockatoosa chattering of cockatoos
- cockroachesan intrusion of cockroaches
- cootsa covert of coots(A group of coots is also called a raft or commotion.)
- a flight of cormorants
- a herd of cows
- coyotesa band of coyotes
- crabsa scuttle of crabs
- cranesa herd of cranes(A group of cranes is also called a sedge, siege, or horde.)
- cricketsan orchestra of crickets
- crocodilesa bask of crocodiles
- a murder of crows(A group of crows is also called a horde, hover, mob, muster, parcel, or parliament.)
- cubsa litter of cubs
- curlewsa herd of curlews
- deera herd of deer
- dinosaursa herd of dinosaurs
- dodosan 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.)
- dotterelsa trip of dotterels
- dovesa dole of doves(A group of doves is also called a bevy, flight, piteousness, or pitying.)
- dragonsa flight of dragons
- ducklingsa 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.)
- dunlinsa fling of dunlins(The term "fling" refers to dunlins in flight.)
- 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
- elka gang of elk(A group of elk is also called a herd.)
- elvesa drove of elves
- a mob of emus
- falconsa 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.)
- firefliesa 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
- fowla 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 sealsa harem of seals(The term harem refers specifically to a group of female seals belonging to one male.)
- a gaggle of geese(A group of geese is also called a flock, skein (in flight), or wedge (in v formation in flight).)
- geldingsa clipping of geldings
- gerbilsa horde of gerbils
- a herd of giraffes
- gnatsa cloud of gnats
- gnusa 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.)
- goldfisha glint of goldfish
- a band of gorillas
- goshawksa flight of goshawks
- goslingsa skein of goslings
- grasshoppersa cloud of grasshoppers
- greyhoundsa leash of greyhounds
- griffinsa pride of griffins
- grousea pack of grouse(A group of grouse is also called a covey, brace (two), or lek.)
- guillemotsa bazaar of guillemots
- guinea fowla confusion of guinea fowl
- a herd of guinea pigs
- gullsa colony of gulls(A group of gulls is also called a screech.)
- 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.)
- herringsa glean of herrings
- a bloat of hippopotamuses
- hogsa sounder of hogs
- hornetsa 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.)
- houndsa pack of hounds(A group of hounds is also called a mute, brace (two), leash (three), or cry.)
- hummingbirdsa charm of hummingbirds
- a clan of hyenas
- ibisesa 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.)
- jackalsa 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.)
- a mob of kangaroos(A group of kangaroos is also called a troop or court.)
- kestrelsa 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.)
- knotsa cluster of knots
- ladybirdsa loveliness of ladybirds
- lambsa 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
- leveretsa kindle of leverets
- licea colony of lice
- a pride of lions
- lizardsa lounge of lizards
- a herd of llamas
- lobstersa risk of lobsters
- locustsa plague of locusts
- lovebirdsa pair of lovebirds
- mackerela 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.)
- mallardsa sord of mallards(A group of mallards is also called a flush or a sute.)
- maresa stud of mares
- martensa richness of martens
- a clan of meerkats
- merlinsa cast of merlins(The term cast refers specifically to a pair released after a game bird.)
- a nest of mice
- midgesa swarm of midges(A group of midges is also called a bite.)
- minnowsa shoal of minnows(A group of minnows is also called a stream.)
- mockingbirdsan impression of mockingbirds
- a labour of moles(A group of moles is also called a company.)
- a band of mongooses
- mongrelsa ménage of mongrels
- a troop of monkeys
- moorhensa flock of moorhens(A group of moorhens is also called a plump.)
- a herd of moose
- mosquitoesa swarm of mosquitoes(A group of mosquitoes is also called a scourge.)
- mothsan eclipse of moths
- mulesa barren of mules(A group of mules is also called a span (a team of two) or string.)
- musselsa bed of mussels
- 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
- 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.)
- oystercatchersa parcel of oystercatchers
- oxena herd of oxen(A group of oxen is also called a drove, span, or a team.)
- a bed of oysters
- pandasan embarrassment of pandas
- a company of parrots(A group of parrots is also called a prattle or pandemonium.)
- partridgesa covey of partridges
- a muster of peacocks(A group of peacocks is also called an ostentation or pride.)
- peasantsa toil of peasants(A group of peasants is also called a bouquet, covey, nide, or nye.)
- pelicansa squadron of pelicans(A group of pelicans is also called a scoop.)
- penguinsa colony of penguins(A group of penguins is also called an creche, huddle, parcel, or rookery.)
- percha 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.)
- pigletsa litter of piglets
- pigsa herd of pigs
- pilchardsa shoal of pilchards(A group of pilchards is also called a school.)
- pintailsa knob of pintails
- pipersa poverty of pipers
- ploversa congregations of plovers(A group of plovers is also called a wing.)
- pocharda flock of pochard(A group of pochard is also called a rush.)
- a celebration of polar bears
- polecatsa chine of polecats
- a string of ponies
- poodlesa salon of poodles
- porcupinesa prickle of porcupines
- porpoisesa pod of porpoises(A group of porpoises is also called a school or herd.)
- possumsa passel of possums
- poultrya run of poultry
- prairie dogsa coterie of dogs
- ptarmigansa parliament of ptarmigans
- puffinsa raft of puffins
- pugsa grumble of pugs
- pumasa prowl of pumas
- puppiesa litter of puppies
- a bevy of quails(A group of quail is also called a covey.)
- a colony of rabbits(A group of rabbits is also called a berry.)
- a gaze of raccoons
- racehorsesa string of racehorses
- ramsa battery of rams
- a swarm of rats(A group of rats is also called a pack.)
- rattlesnakesa rhumba of rattlesnakes
- an unkindness of ravens(A group of ravens is also called a constable.)
- redwinga crowd of redwing
- reindeera 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 deera bevy of deer
- a parliament of rooks(A group of rooks is also called a building or clamour.)
- ruffsa hill of ruffs
- salmona bind of salmon
- sandpipersa fling of sandpipers(A group of sandpipers is also called a bind, cluster, contradiction, or hill.)
- sardinesa shoal of sardines(A group of sardines is also called a school or family.)
- sea horsesa 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.)
- shada shoal of shad
- a school of sharks
- a flock of sheep(A group of sheep is also called a herd, fold, or wing.)
- shelducksa dopping of shelducks
- shrimpsa troupe of shrimps
- skunksa stench of skunks
- skylarksan exultation of skylarks
- slothsa slumber of sloths
- slugsa cornucopia of slugs
- snailsa rout of snails
- a den of snakes
- snipea 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).)
- starfisha galaxy of starfish
- a murmuration of starlings
- sticklebacksa spread of sticklebacks
- stingraysa fever of stingrays
- stoatsa pack of stoats
- storksa muster of storks
- swallowsa flight of swallows
- a bevy of swans(A group of swans is also called a bank or wedge (in V formation in flight).)
- swiftsa flock of swifts
- swinea drift of swine(A group of swine is also called a sounder (wild swine), or trip(tame swine).)
- swordfisha flotilla of swordfish
- tapirsa candle of tapirs
- termitesa colony of termites
- terriersa terror of terriers
- thrushesa mutation of thrushes
- a streak of tigers
- a knot of toads
- a creep of tortoises
- a durante of toucans
- trouta hover of trout
- a rafter of turkeys(A group of turkeys is also called a raffle.)
- turtle dovesa pitying of turtle doves(A group of turtle doves is also called a dole.)
- a bale of turtles
- unicornsa blessing of unicorns
- a nest of vipers
- a colony of voles
- a wake of vultures
- wallabiesa mob of wallabies
- walrusesa herd of walruses
- warthogsa sounder of warthogs
- a swarm of wasps(A group of wasps is also called a nest.)
- waterfowla 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.)
- weaselsa sneak of weasels
- a pod of whales(A group of whales is also called a school, plump, herd, or gam.)
- widgeona company of widgeon(A group of widgeon is also called a coil.)
- wild boarsa sounder of boars
- wild horsesa herd of wild horses
- wildcatsa destruction of wildcats
- willowsa bend of willows
- a pack of wolves(A group of wolves is also called a rout.)
- wombatsa mob of wombats
- woodcocksa fall of woodcocks
- a descension of woodpeckers(A group of woodpeckers is also called a descent.)
- a clew of worms
- a herd of wrens
- yaksa herd of yaks(A group of yaks is also called a cabinet.)
- yellowhammersa flock of yellowhammers
- 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.)
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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.
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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- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did we miss out an important collective noun?
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