What Do You Call This Group of Animals?

You’ve probably heard of a Herd of Cows, a Flock of Chickens, a School of Fish, a Gaggle of Geese, and a Pride of Lions. You may have even heard of a Murder of Crows, an Exaltation of Doves, or a Parliament of Owls. But have you ever wondered who came up with these strange names and why animals have group names at all?

Quick Answers: What Do You Call These Animal Groups?

• A group of aardvarks is called an armory.
• A group of alligators is called a congregation.
• A group of baboons is called a troop, not a congress (despite what you have seen online).
• A group of flamingos is called a stand (or a flamboyance for a poetic touch).
• A group of turkeys is called a rafter (for domestic turkeys) or a flock (for wild turkeys).
• A group of zebras is called a dazzle.

These collective nouns have been used for centuries, often originating from medieval hunting traditions, poetry, and folklore. Some are based on animal behavior (like a Crash of Rhinos, because they charge when startled), while others seem purely poetic (like an Exaltation of Larks).

The List, from Aardvarks to Zebras

Animal	Group Name
Aardvark	Armory
Alligator	Congregation
Antelope	Herd
Ant	Colony, Army
Antelope	Herd
Ape	Shrewdness
Baboon	Troop
Badger	Cete
Bass	Shoal
Bat	Cauldron
Bear	Sloth, Sleuth
Beaver	Colony
Bee	Swarm
Boar	Sounder
Buffalo	Gang, Herd, Obstinacy
Butterfly	Kaleidoscope
Camel	Caravan
Cat	Clowder, Pounce
Caterpillar	Army
Cattle	Herd, Drove
Cheetah	Coalition
Chicken	Flock, Peep
Chimpanzee	Cartload
Clam	Bed
Cobra	Quiver
Cockroach	Intrusion
Colts	Rag, Rake
Coyote	Band
Cow	Herd, Kine, Drove, Fold
Coyote	Band
Crab	Cast
Crane	Sedge
Crocodile	Bask
Crow	Murder
Deer	Herd
Dog	Pack, Kennel
Dolphin	Pod
Donkey	Pace, Drove
Dove	Exaltation, Dule
Duck	Raft, Team, Paddling, Brace
Eagle	Convocation
Elephant	Herd, Parade
Elk	Gang, Herd
Emu	Mob
Falcon	Cast
Ferret	Business
Finch	Charm
Fish	School, Shoal
Flamingo	Stand, Flamboyance
Fly	Swarm, Hatch, Business
Fox	Skulk, Leash
Frog	Army
Giraffe	Tower
Gnat	Cloud, Horde
Goat	Tribe, Trip
Goldfish	Troubling, Glint
Goose	Gaggle, Flock, (Skein in flight)
Gorilla	Band
Grasshopper	Cloud
Hawk	Kettle, Cast
Hedgehog	Prickle
Hippopotamus	Bloat, Thunder
Hog	Drift, Parcel
Horse	Team, Stable, Harras
Hummingbird	Charm
Hyena	Cackle, Clan
Jaguar	Shadow
Jellyfish	Smack
Kangaroo	Troop, Mob
Lark	Exaltation, Ascension
Lemur	Conspiracy
Leopard	Leap
Lion	Pride
Lizard	Lounge
Lobster	Risk
Magpie	Tiding
Mallard	Sord
Manatee	Aggregation
Meerkat	Mob
Mole	Labour
Monkey	Troop, Tribe
Moose	Herd
Moth	Eclipse
Mouse	Mischief
Nightingale	Watch
Ostrich	Flock
Otter	Romp, Raft
Owl	Parliament
Ox	Team, Yoke
Panda	Embarrassment
Parrot	Company
Peacock	Muster, Ostentation
Pelican	Pod
Penguin	Colony, Rookery
Pig	Drift, Drove
Porcupine	Prickle
Quail	Covey
Rabbit	Warren, Drove
Raccoon	Gaze
Rat	Mischief
Raven	Unkindness
Reindeer	Herd
Rhinoceros	Crash
Salamander	Congress
Seal	Harem
Shark	Shiver
Sheep	Flock, Herd
Skunk	Stench
Squirrel	Scurry, Dray
Starling	Murmuration
Tiger	Ambush, Streak
Turkey	Rafter, Flock
Turtle	Bale
Vulture	Venue
Wolf	Pack, Rout
Zebra	Dazzle, Herd

As an aside, we’d also like to point out that we like to call more than one Rhinoceros, Rhinoceri (rhinoceroses), more than one Porcupine, Porcupie (porcupines), and more than one Opossum, Poseye (opossums, or possums). We know it’s wrong, but it’s FUN!

Did we miss any animal group names? Let us know in the comments!

Animal Collective Noun Variations & Fun Facts

Some animals have just one well-known group name, while others have multiple variations. This section expands on those names, highlighting some of the most interesting terms and how they are used.

A Group of Geese – Gaggle, Skein, or Flock?

A group of geese on the ground is called a gaggle, but when geese take to the sky in flight formation, they are known as a skein. The more general term, flock, applies to geese in any setting.

Fun Fact: Geese are known for their strong social bonds, they often mate for life and travel in family groups.

A Tower of Giraffes

A group of giraffes is called a tower, an obvious nod to their height. While giraffes may seem calm and quiet, they communicate using low-frequency sounds that are mostly inaudible to humans.

Fun Fact: Giraffes only need 30 minutes of sleep per day, often napping while standing up!

Flamingos – Stand or Flamboyance?

A group of flamingos is called a stand when they are gathered together, but their vibrant pink color also gives them the poetic name flamboyance. These social birds are often seen wading in shallow waters, using their uniquely shaped beaks to filter out food.

Fun Fact: Flamingos get their pink color from carotenoids found in the algae and shrimp they eat!

A Murder of Crows

A group of crows is called a murder, a term that has been used for centuries. While the exact origin is unclear, it likely stems from old folklore and the bird’s association with death, mystery, and the supernatural. Unlike many birds that travel in structured flocks, crows are highly intelligent and social, often gathering in groups to roost, forage, and even defend territory.

Fun Fact: Crows are known for their problem-solving skills and can even recognize human faces. Studies have shown that they can remember and respond to specific people based on past experiences!

A Parliament of Owls

A group of owls is called a parliament, a name that originates from classic literature and fables, where owls were often depicted as wise and thoughtful creatures. Unlike other birds that form large flocks, owls are generally solitary or in small family groups, but they occasionally gather in loose roosting groups.

Fun Fact: Despite their reputation for wisdom, owls rely more on instinct than intelligence compared to problem-solving birds like crows or parrots. Their exceptional night vision and silent flight make them stealthy nocturnal hunters.

Have information to add or something you’d like to see – reach out and we’ll tackle that next. Meanwhile, enjoy these sweet groups . . .