![]() Bees can be a “hive,” “nest,” “rabble” or “stand.” In some parts of the world, a group of bees is called a “bike” of bees because bike is an old English word that means colony, nest or swarm.īirds group names are maybe the most confusing as some depend on where and what the bird is doing. Some other off-the-wall group names include “smack” of jellyfish “clowder” for three or more house cats “gulp” for a flock of cormorants and what fisherman wouldn’t want to come across a “hover” of trout. Most everyone knows whales in a group are called a “pod,” monkeys a “troop” and wolves a “pack,” but did you know a bunch of parrots is appropriately called a “pandemonium,” and multiple peacocks an “ostentation?” One I didn’t know, and should have, was that a group of bears is called a “sleuth” or “sloth.” Have more than three cats? That's called a 'clowder' ![]() On the other end of the spectrum, it would be cute to see a “scurry” or “dray” of squirrels a “raft” of otters or a “bale” of turtles. Coming across a “knot” of frogs wouldn’t be as bad as stepping on a “knot,” of snakes, which also are called a “bed” or “den” or “pit” of snakes. Right here in our own back yard we might run into a “skulk” of foxes or a “gaze” or “nursery” of racoons. ![]() While I doubt I will ever go on an African safari, I would love to see a “tower” of giraffes, a “bloat” of hippos, a “memory” of elephants or a “bask” of crocodiles (conversely, it’s called a “congregation” of alligators). Giraffes 'tower,' hippos 'bloat' and crocodiles 'bask' This bale was seen at Horseshoe Bay, Presque Isle, Erie, Pennsylvania. Owl groups also have been called a “Congress” or “stare,” but the 1950s children’s book “The Chronicles of Narnia” (which later became a movie), cemented Parliament as the go-to word for a group of owls.Ī group of turtles is called a bale. ![]() “ The Book of Saint Albans” is one of the first places a “gaggle of geese,” “herd of deer,” “flock of sheep” and a “crash of rhinos” was ever in print.Ī lot of the group names come from either the sound the species makes (gaggle of geese, scold of jays) or how they look (“stand” of flamingos).įor instance, a “Parliament” of owls refers to their perceived knowledge and wisdom. It seems a lot of the “group” names came from a 500-year-old book published in 1486 on the etiquette of hunting – both a sport at the time, but also a necessity as a food source. In fact, in the cat family, the lion, tiger and leopard all have different words for their groups – a pride of lions, a leap of leopards and an ambush of tigers.īattling the waters for fish: Battling the weather for a tug on the line at Silver Creek, Lake Milton Naming convention began in 1486 with 'The Book of Saint Albans' When it comes to mammals, not every species is a herd. You see, when it comes to birds, not every group is automatically considered a flock – that depends on both numbers and composition of the group. I’ve always tried to be correct when writing outdoor stories, not to get my “herds” messed up with “flocks,” and “coveys,” let alone “clouds.” That bit of information piqued my interest. Mushroom season: What are Mother Nature's signs that it's morel season? No, hummingbirds groups go by “a bouquet, a glittering, a hover, a shimmer or a tune.” How cool is that? ![]() Along with other information, it mentioned that a group of hummingbirds can be called anyone of five words.Īnd I’m not talking about common, everyday wildlife group names like flock, pod, herd or colony. A lot of animal group names, some dating back over 500 years, tend to relate to how they look or sound.Ī month ago, while vacationing in California, I came across a kiosk while on a wildlife walk at Bolsa Chica Ecological Preserve informing visitors about the Anna’s Hummingbird. A large group of sandhill cranes, like these birds seen at the Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area, can be called a “construction” of cranes, a “dance” of cranes or a “swoop” of cranes, as well as a “sedge” or “siege” of cranes. ![]()
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