Collective nouns specifically designed to describe groups of birds are often referred to as terms of venery. These specialized names, such as a “parliament” or a “murder,” move far beyond the general term “flock,” adding a layer of whimsical or strange imagery to the natural world. These terms typically reflect a bird’s perceived personality, behavior, or sound.
The Most Recognized Collective Nouns
The most widely known collective nouns for birds offer vivid descriptions. Among the corvids, a group of crows is famously called a “murder,” a term that likely reflects the bird’s dark plumage and historical association with ill omens. Ravens are similarly given an ominous name, referred to as an “unkindness” or a “conspiracy.”
Other collective nouns are more playful or complimentary, often reflecting a positive association. A collection of finches, particularly goldfinches, is known as a “charm,” a name thought to derive from the old English word “chirm,” which describes their soft, twittering song. Larks, known for singing while soaring high, are designated an “exaltation,” suggesting uplift or spiritual wonder.
Collective nouns for larger birds of prey and waterfowl also draw upon perceived qualities. A group of owls, for instance, is called a “parliament,” a nod to the ancient association of owls with wisdom. Waterfowl like geese, when on the ground, are a noisy “gaggle.” Sparrows, which often gather near human habitation, form a “host.”
The Historical Origin of These Names
The specific and often unusual nature of these collective nouns can be traced back to the medieval period, particularly 15th-century England. This era saw the development of specialized vocabularies related to hunting, hawking, and social status, collectively known as terms of venery. Knowing these specialized terms was a marker of an educated gentleman, distinguishing the aristocracy from commoners.
Many of these terms were formally documented and popularized in the Book of St. Albans, a printed work from 1486. This book served as a gentleman’s handbook on hawking, hunting, and heraldry. It included an appendix with a lengthy list of collective nouns, compiling terms that had previously circulated in oral tradition. The compiler, traditionally credited to Juliana Berners, included terms that were both practical for hunters and whimsical.
The book’s purpose was not strictly biological; instead, it codified language as a form of courtly knowledge. Terms like a “murder” of crows or a “parliament” of owls were often humorous or metaphorical, intended for wordplay among the gentry. The enduring popularity of the Book of St. Albans solidified many of these colorful phrases, allowing them to survive into the modern English lexicon.
Names Based on Bird Behavior
Collective nouns frequently change based on the bird’s current activity or formation. The term used for a group of birds can indicate whether they are resting, feeding, or flying in a coordinated manner.
One example is the difference in terms for geese, which depends entirely on their location. While a group on the ground is a “gaggle,” when those same geese take flight in their characteristic V-formation for migration, they become a “skein” or a “wedge.” These terms describe the long, thin line they form across the sky. The skein name references a coil of yarn, a visual description of their shape during travel.
Another notable example is found in the raptor family, where the name reflects the bird’s use of air currents. A group of hawks or vultures soaring together on rising thermal air currents is called a “kettle.” This name is a visual metaphor, describing the birds circling upward as if they were boiling in a pot. Conversely, a “cast” of hawks or falcons refers specifically to two birds released together for hunting, emphasizing coordinated action.
The most famous example of a behavior-based collective noun is the “murmuration” of starlings. This term is used exclusively for the massive, fluid groups of starlings that twist and turn in synchronized flight patterns, particularly at dusk. The word itself is onomatopoeic, referring to the low, continuous sound created by the synchronous beating of thousands of wings.