Q&A: Collective nouns of birds

Each week here at the Australian Writers’ Centre, we dissect and discuss, contort and retort, ask and gasp at the English language and all its rules, regulations and ridiculousness. It’s a celebration of language, masquerading as a passive-aggressive whinge about words and weirdness. This week, winged things..

Q: We need to discuss a murder.

A: Oh no! Should we gather everyone together in the drawing room? It had to have been the American playboy or perhaps the reclusive widower Miss Scarlett?… They were BOTH acting strange at breakfast this morning…

Q: Are you finished?

A: Yes, sorry.

Q: The “murder” I’m referring to is a murder of crows.

A: Someone’s killing birds? Well that’s almost as bad! 

Q: No, the name for a group of crows – the collective noun – is a “murder”.

A: Oooooooh. Gotcha. Yes, that’s correct. Well done.

Q: But why?

A: According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the crow’s scavenging habits led to it often being found on battlefields (containing many murdered people) thus associating it with death and this rather grisly grouping.

Q: Vultures also hang around death – do they get a deadly name too?

A: Actually yes. One of their collective nouns is a “wake” of vultures (or buzzards) – although that is usually only when they’re feeding on a carcass. 

Q: You said “one of their” collective nouns?

A: That’s because most birds tend to be rocking more than one group name, for various reasons. Crows are more an exception than a rule – where one has risen to the top.

Q: I see. Well, are there other commonly regarded ones like that?

A: Absolutely! A favourite is a “parliament” of owls.

Q: Is this because they’re unreachable during business hours, say “who?” a lot and run from reporters?

A: Haha, not quite. This one comes from the Greeks, who saw owls as “wise”, and placed one with wisdom goddess Athena – using “parliament” as a way to bring these “wise” creatures together.

Q: They’d probably have more chance of passing a bill…

A: Although they’d call it a beak. 

Q: I’ll do the jokes thanks.

A: Sorry. Would you like to hear some more bird names?

Q: Of COURSE I would!

A: Some are rather a downer, such as an “unkindness of ravens” – often also known as a “conspiracy of ravens.’

Q: Those poor ravens.

A: Yeah, Poe would be turning in his grave – because he was buried alive! Ahem, sorry, just a little Poe joke.

Q: I said NO jokes.

A: Again, sorry.

Q: What about peacocks?

A: This is yet another example where there are two different names. Some simply go with a “muster of peacocks” – but most prefer the more showy “ostentation of peacocks”.

Q: Yeah that seems more fitting. Anything interesting about chickens?

A: Not really – with “flock” and “herd” common names that pop up. However, hens and other egg-laying animals will also give you “brood”. And the description of “brooding” is simply a nod to the “hovering, persistently overhanging” nature of a bird sitting on an egg!

Q: Let’s do parrots next!

A: Well, again, some use flock, others say a “company” of parrots, but the most fun by far is a “pandemonium” of parrots. Both these latter ones are meant to reflect the chaotic and social behaviour. 

Q: Someone said penguins have two, depending on what they’re doing. But aren’t they just a “tuxedo” of penguins?

A: Haha – cute, but that’s just an informal name. Most of the time, you’ll hear about a “colony” of penguins waddling on land (perhaps accompanied by the voice of Morgan Freeman), while in water they become a “raft” of penguins. Same thing with ducks – a “flock” in flight, or a “raft” again while on water.

Q: Are there other birds that change depending on their behaviour?

A: Sure. Geese on the ground are a “gaggle” – and sound like one too. But once in flight, they’re typically called a “skein” in their V-shaped pattern. 

Q: Speaking of patterns, what about that freaky thing starlings do?

A: You’re referring to a “murmuration” – and yes, that is often its collective noun.

Q: Any other memorable ones?

A: A “mob” of emus, a “tribe” of kiwis, a “muster(ing)” of storks, a “kettle” of hawks, “exaltation” of larks, “descent” of woodpeckers, an “aria” of canaries, a “bouquet” of pheasants and finally, a “flamboyance” of flamingos!

Q: So to recap, there are LOTS of different names for birds, yeah?

A: Haha, indeed. Great recap. And often a lot of variations for collective nouns of the SAME bird – so take your favourite under your wing (or its wing) and stick with it!

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