Animal Group Terminology

Updated January 27, 2023 | Factmonster Staff

You might be familiar with some groups of animals and their collective nouns, such as a herd of horses or a gaggle of geese. These are fairly common terms that many people associate with a particular gathering of animal species.

Some animal group terminology is obscure, unexpected, or incredibly specific. For example, a group of Indonesian mountain weasels is called a boogle!

Additionally, some animal names can be easily confused – did you know that a flock of ravens is not called a murder, but an unkindness of ravens? It’s actually a murder of crows.

So, do you know what to call a group of rhinos or jellyfish? Read on for a list of animal group names from a shrewdness of apes to a flamboyance of flamingos!

ClassificationSpecies NameGroup Name
Mammalsapesshrewdness
 assespace
 badgerscete
 batscolony
 bearssleuth, sloth
 buffalogang, obstinancy, herd
 catsclowder, pounce
 cattledrove, herd
 deerherd, bevy
 dogspack, mute, kennel
 elephantsherd
 elkgang
 ferretsbusiness
 foxleash, skulk, earth
 giraffestower
 goatstribe, trip
 gorillasband
 hippopotamusesbloat
 horsesteam, harras, stud, rag, string
 hyenascackle
 kangaroostroop
 leopardsleap
 lionspride
 martensrichness
 moleslabor
 monkeystroop, barrel
 mulespack, span, barren
 ottersromp
 oxenteam, yoke
 pigsdrift, drove, team
 porcupinesprickle
 rabbitscolony, warren, nest
 rhinocerosescrash
 sealspod, herd
 sheepdrove, flock, herd
 squirrelsdray, scurry
 tigersstreak
 whalespod, gam, herd
 wolvespack, rout
Birdsbirds in generalflight, flock, volary, brace
 bitternssedge
 buzzardswake
 bobolinkschain
 chicks (of many species)brood, clutch
 cootscover
 cormorantsgulp
 cranessedge
 crowsmurder, horde
 dottereltrip
 dovesdule
 eaglesconvocation
 finchescharm
 flamingosstand
 geeseflock, gaggle, skein
 grousepack
 gullscolony
 hawkscast, kettle, boil
 heronssedge, siege
 jaysparty, scold
 lapwingsdeceit
 larksexaltation
 mallardssord, brace
 magpiestiding, gulp, murder, charm
 nightingaleswatch
 owlsparliament
 parrotscompany
 partridgecovey
 peacocksmuster, ostentation
 penguinscolony
 pheasantnest, nide, brood, nye, bouquet
 ploverscongregation, wing
 ptarmiganscovey
 rooksbuilding
 quailbevy, covey
 ravensunkindness
 snipewalk, wisp
 sparrowshost
 starlingsmurmuration
 storksmustering
 swallowsflight
 swansbevy, wedge
 tealspring
 turkeysrafter, gang
 widgeonscompany
 woodcocksfall
 woodpeckersdescent
Reptiles and Amphibianscrocodilesbask
 frogsarmy
 toadsknot
 turtlesbale, nest
 snakes, vipersnest
Fishfish in generaldraft, nest, school, shoal
 bassshoal
 herringarmy
 sharksshiver
 trouthover
Invertebratesantscolony
 beesgrist, hive, swarm
 caterpillarsarmy
 clamsbed
 cockroachesintrusion
 fliesbusiness
 gnatscloud, horde
 grasshopperscloud
 hornetsnest
 jellyfishsmack
 locustsplague
 oystersbed

Gaggles and Murders and Swarms, Oh My!

From mammals to fish, birds to invertebrates, these are some of the most interesting animal names. Which one surprised you the most?

If you have an idea for an unlisted animal group name, like a constellation of star-nosed moles or a flatulence of flounders, why not drop us a line and let us know? There are plenty of animal group names out there, but the most obscure creatures might still need collective nouns!

Next up, check out the Can You Name These Baby Animals quiz or test your Endangered Animals knowledge.

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