100+ Collective Nouns for Animals

Have you heard that a group of lions is called a “pride” ? These fascinating and unusual terms are what we call collective nouns for animals. They bring a sense of poetry and imagination to our language while beautifully capturing the essence of unity among creatures.

Imagine this: You’re out in the countryside, soaking up the serene ambiance, and suddenly you stumble upon a gathering of geese. What would you call them? A bunch of geese, perhaps? Well, that’s one way to put it, but did you know they are also called a “gaggle”? That’s right! A gaggle of geese waddling around in perfect unison is a sight to behold.

What are collective nouns?

Collective nouns are special words used to refer to a group of individuals, animals, or things as a single entity. These nouns often add a poetic or descriptive touch to the language, emphasizing the unity or collective nature of the group. For example, instead of simply saying a group of birds, we might use the collective noun “flock” to describe them, giving a more vivid and specific image of the group.

Here are a few key points about collective nouns:

Definition: A collective noun is a word that represents a group of individuals or things as a single unit.

Usage in Language: Collective nouns can make language more colorful and precise. For instance, using “pride” for a group of lions captures the majestic and cohesive nature of the group better than just saying “group.”

Examples in Everyday Context:

• A team of players
• A family of relatives
• A herd of cattle
• A flock of birds

Examples in the Animal Kingdom:

Collective nouns are particularly interesting and varied when it comes to animals, often reflecting unique characteristics or behaviors of the species:

• Pride of lions
• Murder of crows
• Gaggle of geese
• School of fish
• Pack of wolves

Specialty and Variety: 

Collective nouns can be quite specialized, especially in traditional or literary contexts. For example, a parliament of owls or a kaleidoscope of butterflies.

Let’s take a delightful journey through the animal kingdom and explore some collective nouns for animals:

Collective Nouns for Animals

Here’s a list of collective nouns for animals:

• Apes: Shrewdness
• Antelope: Herd or Cluster
• Ants: Colony
• Baboons: Troop or Flange
• Bats: Colony or Cloud
• Bears: Sleuth or Sloth
• Bees: Swarm, Grist, or Hive
• Birds (in general): Flock or Flight
• Buffalo: Herd or Gang
• Butterflies: Flutter or Kaleidoscope
• Camels: Caravan or Flock
• Cats: Clowder, Pounce, or Glaring
• Cattle: Herd or Drove
• Cheetahs: Coalition
• Chickens: Brood, Peep, or Clutch
• Cobras: Quiver
• Cockroaches: Intrusion
• Crocodiles: Bask or Float
• Crows: Murder or Horde
• Deer: Herd or Leash
• Dolphins: Pod or School
• Donkeys: Drove or Herd
• Ducks: Flock or Brace
• Eagles: Convocation
• Elephants: Herd or Parade
• Elk: Gang or Herd
• Falcons: Cast
• Ferrets: Business or Cast
• Fish: Shoal or School
• Flamingos: Stand or Flamboyance
• Foxes: Skulk or Leash
• Frogs: Army
• Geese: Gaggle or Skein (in flight)
• Giraffes: Tower
• Gnus: Implausibility or Herd
• Goats: Tribe or Trip
• Gorillas: Band or Troop
• Grasshoppers: Cloud or Swarm
• Hawks: Cast or Kettle
• Hippos: Bloat or Crash
• Hornets: Nest or Bike
• Horses: Herd or Team
• Hyenas: Clan or Cackle
• Jellyfish: Smack or Brood
• Kangaroos: Troop or Mob
• Kittens: Intrigue or Kindle
• Lions: Pride or Sawt
• Llamas: Herd or Flock
• Magpies: Tiding or Gulp
• Mallards: Sord or Brace
• Monkeys: Troop or Barrel
• Moose: Herd or Gang
• Mosquitoes: Scourge
• Mules: Pack or Span
• Nightingales: Watch
• Otters: Raft or Romp
• Owls: Parliament
• Pandas: Embarrassment
• Parrots: Pandemonium or Company
• Peacocks: Muster or Ostentation
• Penguins: Colony or Rookery
• Pheasants: Nye or Bouquet
• Pigs: Herd or Drift
• Pigeons: Flight or Flock
• Porcupines: Prickle
• Porpoises: Pod, School, or Herd
• Rabbits: Warren or Colony
• Rats: Mischief or Colony
• Ravens: Unkindness or Conspiracy
• Rhinoceroses: Crash or Stubbornness
• Sheep: Flock or Herd
• Skunks: Surfeit
• Snakes: Den or Nest
• Sparrows: Host or Quarrel
• Spiders: Cluster
• Squirrels: Dray or Scurry
• Starlings: Murmuration or Chattering
• Swallows: Flight or Gulp
• Swans: Bevy, Game, or Wedge (in flight)
• Termites: Colony
• Tigers: Ambush or Streak
• Toads: Knot
• Turkeys: Rafter or Gang
• Turtles: Bale or Turn
• Vipers: Generation
• Vultures: Wake or Venue
• Walruses: Herd or Pod
• Wasps: Nest or Swarm
• Weasels: Gang or Pack
• Whales: Pod, Gam, or School
• Wolves: Pack or Route
• Woodpeckers: Descent
• Worms: Bed or Clew
• Wrens: Herd or Chime
• Zebras: Zeal or Dazzle
• Parade of peacocks
• Leap of leopards
• Huddle of penguins
• Boil of hawks
• Array of hedgehogs
• Cluster of cats
• Labor of moles
• Cackle of hyenas
• Sounder of swine
• Troop of kangaroos
• Romp of otters
• Skulk of foxes
• Pod of pelicans
• Sloth of bears
• Scurry of squirrels

Sentence example

• A shrewdness of apes displayed incredible intelligence while solving puzzles.
• The herd of antelope gracefully moved across the savannah, while a cluster of them lingered near the waterhole.
• An enormous colony of ants worked tirelessly to build their intricate underground network.
• We watched a troop of baboons climb trees and a flange of them gather around the river.
• At dusk, a colony of bats emerged from the cave, forming a cloud in the sky.
• A sleuth of bears investigated the picnic site, while another group, known as a sloth, foraged in the forest.
• A swarm of bees buzzed around the flowers, forming a grist near the hive.
• In the morning, a flock of birds took flight, creating a mesmerizing flight pattern in the sky.
• The vast plains were dotted with a herd of buffalo, while a gang of them rested under the shade.
• A flutter of butterflies danced around the garden, forming a beautiful kaleidoscope of colors.
• The desert caravan moved slowly, with a caravan of camels leading the way, while a smaller flock followed behind.
• A clowder of cats lounged in the sun, occasionally interrupted by a playful pounce or a curious glaring.
• The rancher managed a large herd of cattle, occasionally rounding up a smaller drove.
• A coalition of cheetahs worked together to hunt their prey.
• A brood of chickens pecked at the ground, while a peep of chicks stayed close to their mother in the clutch.
• The quiver of cobras swayed in unison, mesmerizing the onlookers.
• An intrusion of cockroaches scurried across the kitchen floor.
• We spotted a bask of crocodiles sunbathing on the riverbank, while another float idled in the water.
• A murder of crows cawed ominously from the treetops, occasionally forming a horde in the sky.
• A herd of deer grazed peacefully in the meadow, and a leash of them moved cautiously through the forest.
• A playful pod of dolphins leaped through the waves, forming a synchronized school.
• The farmer managed a drove of donkeys, while a herd of them roamed freely in the pasture.
• A flock of ducks paddled across the pond, while a brace of them took to the air.
• A majestic convocation of eagles soared high above the mountains.
• A herd of elephants marched across the savannah, forming an impressive parade.
• We encountered a gang of elk in the forest, part of a larger herd.
• A cast of falcons performed aerial acrobatics.
• A business of ferrets scurried through the underbrush, forming a cast near the burrow.
• A shoal of fish darted through the coral reef, moving together as a school.
• A stand of flamingos waded through the shallow waters, creating a stunning flamboyance.
• A skulk of foxes prowled the fields, while a leash of them played near their den.
• An army of frogs hopped around the pond, creating a symphony of croaks.
• A gaggle of geese waddled across the park, while a skein of them flew in V-formation.
• A tower of giraffes gracefully moved across the savannah.
• An implausibility of gnus roamed the plains, blending seamlessly into the larger herd.
• A tribe of goats climbed the rocky hillside, with a smaller trip exploring nearby.
• A band of gorillas played in the forest, while a troop of them foraged for food.
• A cloud of grasshoppers descended on the field, forming a destructive swarm.
• A cast of hawks soared high above, occasionally forming a kettle during migration.
• A bloat of hippos wallowed in the river, occasionally forming a crash on the banks.
• A nest of hornets buzzed angrily, forming a protective bike around their hive.
• A majestic herd of horses galloped across the field, forming a well-coordinated team.
• A clan of hyenas scavenged for food, their distinctive cackle echoing through the night.
• A smack of jellyfish drifted through the water, while a smaller brood stayed near the shore.
• A troop of kangaroos bounded across the outback, forming a curious mob.
• An intrigue of kittens played with a ball of yarn, while a kindle of them napped in the sun.
• A pride of lions lounged in the shade, while another sawt scouted for prey.
• A herd of llamas grazed peacefully on the hillside, while a smaller flock stayed close to the barn.
• A tiding of magpies chattered in the trees, occasionally forming a gulp in the sky.
• A sord of mallards quacked noisily by the pond, while a brace of them flew overhead.
• A mischievous troop of monkeys swung from branch to branch, forming a chaotic barrel.
• A herd of moose wandered through the forest, while a smaller gang stayed near the river.
• A scourge of mosquitoes buzzed annoyingly, making it difficult to enjoy the evening.
• A pack of mules carried supplies up the mountain, while a smaller span rested at the base.
• A watch of nightingales serenaded us with their melodious songs.
• A playful raft of otters frolicked in the river, while a romp of them explored the bank.
• A wise parliament of owls hooted softly from the treetops.
• An embarrassment of pandas clumsily played together, delighting onlookers.
• A chaotic pandemonium of parrots squawked loudly, forming a colorful company in the trees.
• A stunning muster of peacocks displayed their feathers, creating an impressive ostentation.
• A bustling colony of penguins huddled together, forming a large rookery on the ice.
• A colorful nye of pheasants strutted through the field, while a delicate bouquet of them rested nearby.
• A herd of pigs rooted around in the mud, while a smaller drift wandered through the pasture.
• A flight of pigeons took to the sky, forming a synchronized flock.
• A prickle of porcupines cautiously moved through the underbrush.
• A playful pod of porpoises leaped through the waves, forming a curious school in the ocean.
• A bustling warren of rabbits darted through the meadow, while a smaller colony stayed near their burrows.
• A mischief of rats scurried through the alleyways, forming a noisy colony.
• An ominous unkindness of ravens perched on the fence, while a shadowy conspiracy watched from the trees.
• A crash of rhinoceroses charged through the savannah, displaying their stubbornness.
• A peaceful flock of sheep grazed in the meadow, forming a large herd.
• A surfeit of skunks wandered through the garden, causing a commotion.
• A den of snakes slithered through the grass, while a nest of them basked in the sun.
• A lively host of sparrows chirped from the bushes, occasionally forming a quarrel over food.
• A cluster of spiders spun intricate webs in the corners of the barn.
• A busy dray of squirrels collected nuts, forming a scurry in the trees.
• A mesmerizing murmuration of starlings danced in the sky, creating a rhythmic chattering.
• A graceful flight of swallows swooped through the air, occasionally forming a gulp.
• A serene bevy of swans glided across the lake, forming a game on the water. When in flight, they arranged into a wedge.
• A hardworking colony of termites built complex mounds in the forest.
• A stealthy ambush of tigers stalked through the jungle, while a streak of them raced across the plains.
• A knot of toads croaked loudly in the marsh, creating a chorus of sounds.
• A rafter of turkeys strutted through the farmyard, forming a curious gang.
• A bale of turtles sunned themselves on a log, occasionally forming a turn in the water.
• A slithering generation of vipers moved through the underbrush.
• A watchful wake of vultures circled overhead, while a venue of them perched nearby.
• A massive herd of walruses lounged on the beach, forming a close-knit pod in the water.
• A busy nest of wasps buzzed angrily, forming a protective swarm around their hive.
• A fierce gang of weasels hunted together, occasionally forming a pack.
• A majestic pod of whales breach the surface, forming a playful gam in the ocean. Sometimes, they travel together as a school.
• A powerful pack of wolves prowled through the forest, forming a coordinated route.
• A descent of woodpeckers tapped rhythmically on the tree trunks.
• A wriggling bed of worms burrowed into the soil, forming a tangled clew.
• A lively herd of wrens flitted through the bushes, occasionally forming a musical chime.
• A dazzling zeal of zebras grazed on the plains, their stripes blending into a mesmerizing dazzle.
• A parade of peacocks strutted across the garden, displaying their vibrant plumage.
• In the dense jungle, a leap of leopards silently stalked their prey.
• On the icy terrain, a huddle of penguins gathered closely to keep warm.
• A boil of hawks circled high above, searching for their next meal.
• In the forest, an array of hedgehogs scurried about, foraging for food.
• The cluster of cats lounged lazily in the afternoon sun.
• Underground, a labor of moles dug intricate tunnels.
• The night was filled with the eerie laughter of a cackle of hyenas.
• A sounder of swine rooted around in the muddy field.
• A troop of kangaroos bounded across the outback, their powerful legs propelling them forward.
• By the riverbank, a romp of otters played joyfully in the water.
• A skulk of foxes crept stealthily through the underbrush.
• Over the ocean, a pod of pelicans soared gracefully, diving for fish.
• In the dense forest, a sloth of bears moved slowly, foraging for berries.
• A scurry of squirrels darted through the trees, gathering acorns for winter.

FAQs

What is a collective noun? 

A collective noun is a special word that names a group of people, animals, or things as a single unit. For example, a flock of birds refers to a group of birds. These nouns make our language more colorful and specific.

Why are collective nouns important? 

Collective nouns add richness and precision to our language. They help us describe groups of animals or things in a more vivid way. For example, saying a murder of crows is more interesting than just saying a group of crows.

Can you give examples of collective nouns for animals? 

Yes, there are many interesting collective nouns for animals. For instance, a pride of lions, a gaggle of geese, and a school of fish. Each collective noun captures a unique characteristic of the animal group.

Are collective nouns used only for animals? 

No, collective nouns are used for groups of people and things as well. For example, a team of players, a family of relatives, or a bunch of grapes. They help describe any group as a single entity.

How can I learn more about collective nouns? 

You can find many resources online or in books that list and explain collective nouns. Reading literature or animal-related articles can also help you see how these nouns are used in context. Exploring these sources will enhance your vocabulary and understanding of collective nouns.

Epilogue

In conclusion, collective nouns add a delightful layer of richness and imagination to our language. They allow us to describe groups of animals, people, or objects in a more vivid and precise way. Whether you’re talking about a murder of crows or a school of fish, these unique terms capture the essence of unity among creatures. By using collective nouns, we bring a poetic and colourful touch to our descriptions, making our communication more engaging and dynamic. So, next time you encounter a group of animals, remember these fascinating collective nouns and add a bit of flair to your language!