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1
A Murder of Crows
“Murder” is the lurid nickname for a group of crows. Birders usually call a gathering a flock or, when the birds come together to spend the night, a roost. These crows gathered at an evening roost in Massachusetts.
2
A Murmuration of Starlings
The 1486 Book of Saint Albans used a form of “murmuration” for a group of starlings. The word also evokes the low sounds a flock makes. Today it often describes the shape-shifting flight of a big flock before it settles to roost.
3
A Flamboyance of Flamingos
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo uses “flamboyance” for a group of flamingos. A crowd of the American flamingos pictured here shows why the name has stuck in zoo writing. Their pink and orange pigments come from food.
4
A Pride of Lions
The Book of Saint Albans printed a version of “pride of lions” in 1486. The word still names an actual social group. Related females and their young form its core, and the pride also has one or more adult males.
5
A Business of Ferrets
An old form of “business of ferrets” appears in the 1486 list of animal companies. The pairing turns a few inquisitive animals into something that sounds like an enterprise. It survives as a traditional expression.
6
An Unkindness of Ravens
The Book of Saint Albans put “unkindness” with ravens. That pairing is historical, and the reason for it is harder to prove. The two common ravens pictured are preening each other, a useful counterpoint to the nickname.
7
A Parliament of Owls
“Parliament” is a literary nickname for a group of owls. Birders usually use “flock” or describe a family. Audubon records another whimsical term, a “stare,” which makes sense when those eyes face the same way.
8
A Dazzle of Zebras
“Dazzle” is a playful alternative to “herd” for a group of zebras. The black-and-white stripes are what make the word fit. Look how hard it is to separate the outlines of the animals in the photograph.
9
A Tower of Giraffes
Zoos use “tower” for a group of giraffes. It’s easy to see why when several long necks rise together. The animals also form loose herds whose membership can change as individuals come and go.
10
A Bloat of Hippos
The Cincinnati Zoo calls its group of common hippos a “bloat.” The nickname also suits wild hippos crowded together in a river pool. The animals commonly spend much of the day in water and come out to feed on land.
11
A Crash of Rhinoceroses
The International Rhino Foundation uses “crash” as a playful collective noun. White rhinos, especially females and younger animals, can gather socially. The photographed group shows how bulky even a small one looks.
12
A Conspiracy of Lemurs
Point Defiance Zoo uses “conspiracy” for a group of lemurs. Ring-tailed lemurs have a social arrangement just as memorable: females tend to stay with the group where they were born, while males move between groups.
13
A Clowder of Cats
A “clowder” is a dictionary word for a group of cats, even if it sounds more like something on a menu. The 1486 Book of Saint Albans gives a more specific name, “kindle,” for young cats.
14
A Skein or Gaggle of Geese
A flying flock of geese can be called a “skein,” the same word used for a loosely wound length of yarn. “Gaggle” is the noisier-sounding group name and appears in the 1486 Book of Saint Albans. The geese pictured are in flight.
15
A Raft of Sea Otters
A “raft” is an actual group of sea otters resting together. In Monterey Bay the otters often raft among kelp, though they can do so in open water. Their backs float at the surface, which makes the name particularly apt.
16
A Smack or Bloom of Jellyfish
“Smack” is the playful term in NOAA’s list of jellyfish group names. “Bloom” is another option, especially for a conspicuous concentration. The translucent animals pictured here are moon jellies.
17
A Shiver of Sharks
“Shiver” is a nickname used in diving and aquarium writing. Marine researchers may describe a gathering as a school or an aggregation, depending on its behavior. The photograph shows schooling hammerheads in the Galápagos.
18
A Kettle of Hawks
A kettle forms when several soaring birds circle in the same column of rising warm air. Broad-winged hawks put on this display during migration. Watching them spiral upward gives the impression of a pot coming to a boil.
19
A Mob of Meerkats
A “mob” is a meerkat social group. Despite the unruly name, the animals cooperate. While some forage, another may stand guard and call when danger appears.
20
A Mob of Kangaroos
Australian wildlife researchers use “mob” for a social group of kangaroos. An eastern gray kangaroo mob can split into smaller groups of different sizes. Grazing groups may come together at cooler times of day.
21
A Coterie of Prairie Dogs
In a black-tailed prairie dog colony, a “coterie” is a family unit. Several coteries make up a larger town. The word feels like a human social circle and gives you a way to describe one small part of the colony.
