A Flamboyance of Flamingos and Other Brilliant Bird Group Names
There’s quite a variety of birds in this world, whether it’s the dark and ominous raven or the cute waddling penguin. And when birds gather together, there’s no shortage of fun names for them. Let’s take flight and review some of the most creative (and surprising) collective nouns for bird species.
A Congress of Crows
You may have heard of a murder of crows, but a group of these ominous birds is also called a congress. Perhaps that’s because a gathering of crows perched in a cemetery looks less like a flock and more like a committee convening to discuss something grim.
A Conspiracy of Ravens
“Quoth the Raven, ‘Nevermore,’” wrote Edgar Allan Poe about a raven taunting a lovesick man over his lost love, Lenore. There’s that death association again. When you see a group of ravens doing something morbid like eating a dead animal, you can call it a constable, an unkindness, or a conspiracy.
A Kettle of Hawks
It’s rare for birds of prey to flock together, but the Harris’s hawk does. When hunting together, these hawks are called a cast or kettle. Kettle is a term often used to describe birds that circle in groups, much like the Harris’s hawk and its friends. As they circle, especially when catching an upward-moving air current, it makes them look like steam pouring out of a boiling kettle.
A Looming of Owls
A group of owls is called a looming. They’re also a wisdom or a parliament, which is fitting, as owls appear as if they’re discussing something profound up in trees.
A Pitying of Doves
The call of a mourning dove has been compared to the moan of a mourning mother. Its chest and throat puff out, resulting in a heartbreaking wail of lament. So yes, that’s why a group of them is called a pitying or a piteousness. Poor doves.
A Ballet of Swans
There are many names for a group of swans: bevy and herd don’t quite capture their grace. But ballet is an elegant choice, hinting at the swan’s refined sophistication. Even ugly ducklings can look forward to one day being a part of the ballet!
A Flamboyance of Flamingos
A group of flamingos is called a flamboyance. Both flamingo and flamboyance come from words referring to fire. Flamingo comes from the Spanish and Portuguese flamengo, literally, “flame-colored.” Flamboyance comes from French, meaning “flaming” or “flair.”
A Party of Peacocks
Peacocks are a true spectacle for observers. And their group names are just as exciting! A group of peacocks is called a party or, if you’re feeling displeased with these extravagant birds, an ostentation.
A Waddle of Penguins
Even though they can’t fly, penguins have distinct names for when they are on land and in water. A group of penguins on land is a colony, or a waddle (because they waddle side to side when they walk). In the water, a group of penguins is called a raft.
A Paddling of Ducks
Teamwork is a theme for ducks, which isn’t that surprising since they’re so communicative. Quacking this way and that, there are often a few together, with little ducklings in tow. A group of these highly social creatures is called a paddling (as in, we’re paddling down the river).
