Some Would Call It An Easy Meal

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. — Sheriff's divers have come to the rescue of a trapped goose that sat too long in frigid waters of a Detroit suburb.

Police responded Friday night after being told the goose was trapped in the Clinton River near Shadyside Park.

Divers and a marine officer first tried putting warm water around the goose, which was frozen in the ice.

Macomb County Sheriff's divers chipped away at the ice and within an hour freed the goose. The bird then waddled to a group of geese sitting in open water nearby.

Sgt. Dan Willis says it honked, then "swam away with the rest of the pack."

Honkin' link

Flock, it's a flock. Wolves run in packs, dogs run in packs. Geese are in flocks. Most birds are in flocks, although a number of crows is called a murder.....

CelticDragon wrote:

Flock, it's a flock. Wolves run in packs, dogs run in packs. Geese are in flocks. Most birds are in flocks, although a number of crows is called a murder.....

And...



ANIMAL


TERM
ANTELOPES A HERD of antelopes.
ANTS

A COLONY of ants. Courtesy of Melissa Bee - thanks.

An ARMY of ants.

A STATE or SWARM of ants.

APES


A SHREWDNESS of apes

ASSES


A HERD or PACE of asses

A DROVE of asses.
BABOONS A TROOP of baboons

Courtesy of Michael Haberl
BACTERIA A COLONY of bacteria.

Micribiologists call groups of bacteria COLONIES. A culture would consist of many colonies.

Ron Orts

A CULTURE of bacteria. Chris Moffatt

BADGERS


A CETE of badgers
BARRACUDAS A BATTERY of barracudas.
BASS A SHOAL of bass. Courtesy of Melissa Bee.
BATS A COLONY of bats. Courtesy of Melissa Bee.

A CLOUD of bats.

Keith Harris

BEARS


A SLOTH or SLEUTH of bears
BEAVERS A COLONY of beavers.

A FAMILY of beavers.

BEES


A GRIST, HIVE, SWARM, DRIFT or BIKE of bees

A CLUSTER, ERST or NEST of bees.

BIRDS


A FLOCK, FLIGHT, or PARCEL of birds.
A POD of birds (small flock)
A VOLARY of birds (in an aviary)
A BRACE = a pair of gamebirds or waterfowl *
* Courtesy of Melissa Bee.

A DISSIMULATION of birds. Phillip Joss
BISON A HERD of bison.
BITTERNS A SEDGE of bitterns. Courtesy of Melissa Bee.

BOAR (WILD)


A SOUNDER or SINGULAR of wild boar
BOBOLINKS A CHAIN of bobolinks (whatever they might be!!)
Courtesy of Melissa Bee.

Just in case there is anyone else out there who, like me, doesn't know what a Bobolink is I have been reliably informed by Amelia B., that it is a small bird. The male is black and white with a yellow cap on his head and the female is golden brown with brown markings.

Another name for a bobolink is a whippoorwill***
(their call sounds a little like someone saying the word whippoorwill).

Thanks to Eric Pittenger for this additional information.

*** Apparently this is not the case.

Clarice Olle has been kind enough to point out that the above is in fact incorrect.

A bob-o-link (short for Robert of Lincoln) is NOT the same bird as a whippoorwill.

This is confirmed on the site at http://nationalzoo.si.edu/default.cfm

John Canepa as also provided the following information:

Bobolinks and whippoorwills are two different birds. The bobolink is a small-medium size bird dwelling in open fields where it makes its nest on the ground and has one of the most amazing and hysterical songs ever. The whippoorwill is a medium size bird, active at night, with plumage so as that you practically step on them as they rest on the forest floor. An interesting note about the whippoorwill is that they will come to rest in a circle, with their tails all facing in so that they can be protected from danger.

Susan Vanderveen also confirms - I respectively submit the information that a Bobolink and Whip-poor-will are not two terms for one bird. They are two very distinct species.
BUCK

A BRACE OR CLASH of bucks. Michael Haberl
BUDGERIGARS A CHATTER of budgerigars.

BUFFALO


A HERD, TROUP, GANG or OBSTINACY of buffalo
BULLOCKS A DROVE of bullocks.
BUTTERFLIES A SWARM or RABBLE of butterflies.

A KALEIDOSCOPE of butterflies. Christina Gonzales

A FLUTTER of butterflies. (Priscilla Weikert sent in this one)
BUZZARDS A WAKE of buzzards. Courtesy of Melissa Bee

CAMELS A CARAVAN, FLOCK or TRAIN of camels.
CARIBOU A HERD of caribou.
CATERPILLARS An ARMY of caterpillars. Courtesy of Melissa Bee

CATTLE


A HERD, DROVE or DRIFT of cattle.
A MOB of cattle (US and Australia*)

*John Slay
CATS

A CLOWDER of cats. (sent in by Paul Chapin)
A POUNCE of cats.
A KINDLE, LITTER OR INTRIGUE (for kittens)

Courtesy of Melissa Bee

A CLUTTER of cats.

A COMFORT of cats. Contributed by Gary Goldring
CHEETAHS A COALITION of cheetahs Submitted by Lisa Ashley Mayock

CHICKEN


A BROOD, CLUTCH, flock, run or PEEP of chicken
CHICKS A CLUTCH OR CHATTERING of chicks.

Thanks to Michael Haberl
CHOUGHS A CHATTERING of choughs.
CLAMS A BED of clams (contributed by Clyde Hogendobler)
COATI (COATIMUNDI) A BAND of coati (coatimundi)
COBRAS A QUIVER of cobras Michael Haberl
COCKROACHES An INTRUSION of cockroaches. Courtesy of Melissa Bee
COLTS A RAG of colts.
COOTS A COVERT or COVER* of coots. * Courtesy of Melissa Bee
CORMORANTS A GULP (SOLITUDE)* OR FLIGHT of cormorants.

*Courtesy of Melissa Bee
COWS A KINE of cows (12 cows are a FLINK) Michael Haberl
COYOTE A PACK of coyotes

A TRAIN of coyotes Donald Kross

A BAND of coyotes Michael Haberl
CRABS A BUSHEL of crabs Submitted by Kristen Reece

CRANES


A HERD, SEIGE or SEDGE* of cranes * Courtesy of Melissa Bee
CROCODILES A CONGREGATION or NEST

A BASK or FLOAT of crocodiles. Michael Haberl

A STRIKER (unconfirmed) Mike Paget
CROWS

A MURDER of crows Jill Dobbs, Rachael Blomeley and anon.)
A HORDE of crows. Courtesy of Melissa Bee

CUBS


A LITTER of cubs

CURLEW


A HERD of curlew
CURS A COWARDICE of curs. Michael Haberl

DEER

ROE DEER


A HERD, LEASH or MOB of deer

A BEVY of roe deer. Courtesy of Melissa Bee
DOGFISH A TROOP of dogfish

DOGS


A PACK (wild dogs) or KENNEL of dogs
A COWARDICE of curs. )
A LITTER of puppies. Courtesy of Melissa Bee
DOLPHINS A SCHOOL of dolphins.

A POD of dolphins. Thanks to Audrie Dugger
DONKEYS A HERD or PACE of donkeys/asses Courtesy of Melissa Bee

Michael Haberl
DOTTEREL A TRIP of dotterel. Courtesy of Melissa Bee

Apparently a Dotterel is a rare plover of upland areas of Eurasia.

Thanks to Linwood Lyons for supplying this useful information.

DOVES


A FLIGHT, DULE or DOLE of doves.
A PITYING of turtle doves. Courtesy of Melissa Bee

A PLAGUE of doves

Jay Johnson

DUCKS


A RAFT, PADDLING or BUNCH of ducks on water.
A TEAM, BRACE, BED, FLIGHT OR FLOCK* of wild ducks in flight.
Courtesy of Melissa Bee

DUNLINS


A FLING of dunlins

EAGLES A CONVOCATION of eagles.

A CONGREGATION of eagles.

Sent in by Mike Field
EELS An ARRAY of eels.

John Beumer

A SEETHING of eels.

David Thomson

ELEPHANTS


A HERD or PARADE* of elephants *also Raila and Jon Foley

A CRASH of elephants. Submitted by Susan Walsh

ELK


A HERD of elk.
A GANG of elk (US)
EMUS A MOB of emus. Michael Haberl
FERRETS A BUSINESS of ferrets

(contribtued by Clyde Hogendobler, Phillip Joss & Brian Schott)

FINCHES


A CHARM of finches

FISH


A SHOAL, DRAFT, NEST, SCHOOL* of fish.
A RUN of fish in motion. *Courtesy of Melissa Bee
FLAMINGOES A STAND of flamingoes. Courtesy of Melissa Bee

A FLAMBOYANCE of flamingoes. Sent in by Kevin Yocum

FLIES


A CLOUD, HATCH, BUSINESS* or SWARM of flies.

*Courtesy of Melissa Bee
FOXES A SKULK of foxes (contributed by Clyde Hogendobler)
A CLOUD, TROOP, or COMPANY of foxes.
A LEASH OR EARTH of foxes.* *Courtesy of Melissa Bee
FROGS An ARMY or COLONY of frogs. Michael Haberl

A KNOT of frogs.

GEESE


A GAGGLE or FLOCK of geese.
A SKEIN, TEAM or WEDGE of geese (in the air)
A PLUMP of geese (on water)
GERBILS A HORDE of gerbils.

GIRAFFES


A CORPS, TROOP, HERD , TOWER*, KINDERGARTEN** or JOURNEY*** of giraffes

* Courtesy of Melissa Bee ** Courtesy of James Marohn ***Raila and Jon Foley
GNATS A CLOUD OR HORDE of gnats. Courtesy of Melissa Bee
GNUS An IMPLAUSIBILITY of gnus. Andrew Davidson

GOATS


A FLOCK, HERD or TRIBE of goats

A TRIP of goats (This is not one I have heard of before - thank you Lee Lundberg)
GOLDFINCHES A CHARM of goldfinches.
GOLDFISH A TROUBLING of goldfish.
GORILLAS A BAND of gorillas (contributed by Clyde Hogendobler)
GRASSHOPPERS A CLOUD of grasshoppers.
GREYHOUNDS A LEASH of greyhounds.

GROUSE


A PACK or COVEY of grouse
GUILLEMOTS A BAZAAR of guillemots.
GUINEA FOWL A CONFUSION of guinea fowl.

Alexandra Bylczynski
GUINEA PIGS A GROUP of guinea pigs

Mike Holden
GULLS A COLONY of gulls.

HAMSTERS A HORDE of hamsters. Thanks to Margie and John for this.
HARES A HUSK, DOWN or MUTE of hares.

A TRACE of hares.

Alexandra Bylczynski
HAWKS A CAST, KETTLE (flying in large numbers) or BOIL (two or more) of hawks.
Courtesy of Melissa Bee
HEDGEHOGS An ARRAY of hedgehogs.
HENS A BROOD of hens.
HERONS A SCATTERING, SEIGE or SEDGE* of herons.

* Courtesy of Melissa Bee
HERRING An ARMY of herring. Courtesy of Melissa Bee
HIPPOPOTAMI A BLOAT of hippopotami (or hippopotamuses)
HOGS A DRIFT or PARCEL of hogs. Michael Haberl
HORNETS A NEST of hornets. Courtesy of Melissa Bee

HORSES


A STUD or STRING of horses (Breeding)
A TEAM, HARRAS, PAIR or RAG of horses (i.e. colts.)*
A FIELD, HERD, REMUDA, SET or STABLE of horses.

*Courtesy of Melissa Bee


HOUNDS


A PACK, KENNEL, MUTE or CRY of hounds

Possibly LEASH of hounds (but cannot confirm this fact)

Thanks to John Branda for this suggestion.
HYENAS A CACKLE of hyenas. Courtesy of Melissa Bee

INSECTS


A SWARM of insects
JACKRABBITS A HUSK of jackrabbits.
JAYS A PARTY or SCOLD of jays. Courtesy of Melissa Bee
JELLYFISH A BROOD, SMUCK or SMACK of jellyfish.

KANGAROOS


A MOB or TROOP of kangaroos

KITTENS


A KENDLE, KINDLE or LITTER of kittens.
LADYBIRDS (LADYBUGS/LADYBEETLES) A LOVELINESS of ladybirds.

Sent in by Simon Odell - not authenticated but too nice to omit.
LAPWINGS A DESERT or DECEIT* of lapwings. *Courtesy of Melissa Bee

LARKS


A BEVY of larks.
An EXALTATION of larks. (contributed by Elazar Friedman)
An ASCENSION of larks. Michael Haberl
LEMURS A GROUP of lemurs
LEOPARDS A LEAP of leopards (contributed by Clyde Hogendobler)
LICE A FLOCK of lice.

LIONS


A PRIDE, FLOCK, SAWT, SOUSE, or TROOP of lions.

A SAULT of lions.

Alexandra Bylczynski
LOCUSTS A CLOUD, PLAGUE or SWARM of locusts.

MAGPIES A TITTERING, TIDING, GULP, MURDER or CHARM* of magpies.
* Courtesy of Melissa Bee
MALLARDS A SORD or BRACE* of mallards. (sent in by Elazar Friedman)
* Courtesy of Melissa Bee
MARES A STUD of mares. Michael Haberl
MARTENS A RICHNESS of martens. Courtesy of Melissa Bee

A RICHESSE of martens. Submitted by Jayne Collins
MEERKATS A MOB of meerkats. Sent in by Kristin Howard
MINNOWS A STEAM of minnows.
MOLES A LABOUR of moles. Phillip Joss
MONGOOSES A BUSINESS of mongooses.

Steve Rundstrom

MONKEYS


A TROOP, CARTLOAD or BARREL* of monkeys

* Courtesy of Melissa Bee
MOOSE A HERD of moose.
MOSQUITOES A SCOURGE of mosquitoes.
MULES A BARREN, PACK* or SPAN of mules.

* Courtesy of Melissa Bee
NIGHTINGALES A WATCH of nightingales.

An ENCHANTMENT of nightingales.

OTTERS A FAMILY, BEVY or ROMP* of otters. * Courtesy of Melissa Bee

A RAFT of otters Submitted by Donald Cheek.
OWLS A PARLIAMENT of owls. (thanks to anonymous contributor & Raila and Jon Foley)

A STARE or WISDOM of owls. Grant Schneider

A STUDY of owls. Submitted by Amelia B.
OXEN A TEAM or YOKE of oxen.. Courtesy of Melissa Bee
A DROVE or HERD of oxen Michael Haberl

A SPAN* of oxen Submitted by Richard Bowen

*(I believe this may refer to a team of two or more)
OYSTERS A BED of oysters Contributed by Clyde Hogendobler and Kristen Reece
PARROTS A PANDEMONIUM or COMPANY* of parrots.

* Courtesy of Melissa Bee

PARTRIDGES


A COVEY of partridges
PEACOCKS A MUSTER or OSTENTATION* of peacocks.

* Courtesy of Melissa Bee

A PULCHRITUDE of peacocks. *Suggested by S. M. Steven.
PEEPS A LITTER of peeps. Michael Haberl

PENGUINS


A ROOKERY or COLONY* of penguins

* Courtesy of Melissa Bee

PHEASANTS


A HEAD, NYE, NEST, , NIDE (BROOD)* or BEVY of pheasants.

* Courtesy of Melissa Bee

A BOUQUET of pheasants (in flight)

Alexandra Bylczynski

PIGEONS


A KIT of pigeons (flying together)
A FLOCK or FLIGHT of pigeons. Michael Haberl

I have been advised by Terry West that this can also be a "LOFT" of pigeons. I am, however, a little nervous about this one as I know pigeons' living quarters are called a Loft.

You question a 'loft' of pigeons because a loft may be a pigeon's home. Many creatures can be referred to in this way - cf. a dray of squirrels; and I wonder if a cete of badgers is not, at heart, a 'set' of badgers.

Roger Whiteway

PIGS


A HERD, TRIP or LITTER of pigs
A DRIFT, DROVE, SOUNDER (swine), TEAM, PASSEL (hogs)*
* Courtesy of Melissa Bee

PLOVERS


A STAND, WING OR CONGREGATION of plovers
PONIES A DROVE OR STRING of ponies.
PORCUPINES A PRICKLE of porcupines. * Courtesy of Melissa Bee

PORPOISES


A HERD, SCHOOL or POD of porpoises.
PRAIRIE DOGS A COTERIE of prairie dogs. Ken

PTARMIGAN


A COVEY of Ptarmigan

PUPS


A LITTER of pups

A PUDDLE of puppies

QUAIL


A BEVY, DRIFT or COVEY* of quail

* Courtesy of Melissa Bee
RABBITS A BURY, COLONY, CIRCLE, NEST, HERD (domestic), LITTER (young) of rabbits.

* Courtesy of Melissa Bee

A TRACE of rabbits.

Alexandra Bylczynski

RACEHORSES


A STRING of racehorses
RATS A COLONY of rats.
A PACK or SWARM of rats. Michael Haberl

A MISCHIEF of rats.

Phil Malia,
RATTLESNAKES A RHUMBA of rattlesnakes. Michael Haberl.
RAVENS An UNKINDNESS of ravens.

A MURDER of ravens. Michelle Hellstern
REINDEER A HERD of reindeer.
RHINOS A CRASH or HERD of rhinos

(contributed by Clyde Hogendobler) Michael Haberl/ Raila and Jon Foley
ROEBUCKS A BEVY of roebucks.
ROOKS A BUILDING or ROOKERY of rooks.
A CLAMOUR of rooks. Michael Haberl
A PARLIAMENT of rooks. Clayton Deathe

RUFFS


A HILL of ruffs

SARDINES A FAMILY of sardines.
SASQUATCH A PUNGENT of sasquatch.

Lindsay Boe
SCHNAUZERS A STENCH of Schnauzers

No complaints please, this was sent in by DD a Schnauzer owner who is a Veterinary Surgeon (identity protected by me, for obvious reasons!!!!)
SEA OTTERS A RAFT of sea otters Submitted by Donald Cheek.
SEAGULLS A FLOCK of seagulls.

Jason Murray

SEALS


A HERD, HAREM, TRIP or ROOKERY* of seals
A POD of seals (a small herd)

Leigh-Anne Kolasinski advises that the term "rookery" is normally used for the place where seals give birth rather than as a collective noun.

I have noticed that many of the collective nouns featured on the various pages do in fact refer to the habitat rather than groups but these terms are notoriously difficult to authenticate; even the most prestigious dictionaries do not feature them, presumably for that reason. I am led to believe, however, that the The Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus (ed. Maurice Waite, 2007) shows this term as being a collective noun.

SHARKS A SHIVER of sharks. Courtesy of Melissa Bee

SHEEP


A FLOCK, HERD, HIRSEL, PACK, DROVE* or TRIP of sheep *Courtesy of Melissa Bee

A MOB of sheep (Australian) Courtesy of Anthony Coates
SKUNKS A SURFEIT of skunks.

Mary Gutierrez
SKYLARKS An ASCENSION of skylarks.

David Milne
SNAKES A DEN, BED, PIT or SLITHER of snakes.

A NEST or KNOT of snakes. Courtesy of Melissa Bee

A BROOD of snakes (a family group) Robert Richards

SNIPE


A WISP or WALK of snipe
SPARROWS A HOST of sparrows.

A KNOT of sparrows. (Thomas Hardy Far from the Madding Crowd)

Steve
SQUIRRELS A DRAY* or SCURRY* of squirrels. * Courtesy of Melissa Bee

* Laurel Parker has pointed out -

"I believe the term "dray" of squirrels is incorrect, since a dray is the name for a squirrel's sleeping quarters, and most of the time there is only one squirrel inhabiting a dray. At most, a dray would house a litter (2-4 babies) plus mom but that is only twice a year.

Squirrels do use a buddy system when they can and pair or triple up for safety ( this is not their mates but often siblings or two weaker members of a greater community will buddy for strength in numbers).

Any way you look at it, a dray doesn't hold much of a group."

I did some research on the subject and the term "dray" some appear to be the popular choice, however, like Laurel, experts say that as squirrels are fairly solitary creatures there is probably no need for a collective noun.

I doubt if the lady who sent in the photos featured on the following site would agree!

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/mammal-forums/12141-do-i-really-deserve.html


STARLINGS A MURMATION of starlings. (courtesy of Elazar Friedman)

A MURMURATION of starlings. Corrected by Andrew Okulitch

A FILTH of starlings (courtesy of Wayne Bickley)
STINGRAYS A FEVER of stingrays.

Ellie Foran
STORKS A MUSTERING of storks. Courtesy of Melissa Bee

SWALLOWS


A FLIGHT or GULP of swallows

SWANS


A GAME, BANK, TEAM, HERD or BEVY* of swans.

A WEDGE of swans in the air. Courtesy of Melissa Bee

A LAMENTATION of swans. Michael Haberl

A BALLET of swans.

Tom
SWIFTS A FLOCK of swifts Michael Haberl

SWINE


A HERD, DRIFT OR SOUNDER of swine

TADPOLES A CLOUD of tadpoles.

Summer Robinson

Jim Arnosky's book A Kettle of Hawks and other wildlife groups
TEAL A SPRING of teal.
TERMITES A BROOD, COLONY, NEST OR SWARM of termites.
THRUSHES A MUTATION of thrushes.
TIGERS An AMBUSH or STREAK* of tigers. Courtesy of Melissa Bee
TOADS A KNOT or KNAB of toads (courtesy of Clyde Hogendobler)
TROUT A HOVER of trout.
TURKEYS A RAFTER or GANG* of turkeys. Courtesy of Melissa Bee
TURTLE DOVES A PITYING or DULE of turtle doves. Courtesy of Melissa Bee
TURTLES A BALE, DOLE or NEST* of turtles

(contributed by Clyde Hogendobler)
A TURN of turtles. * Courtesy of Melissa Bee
VIPERS A NEST of vipers. Courtesy of Melissa Bee
VULTURES A COMMITTEE of vultures. Contributed by Kevin Yocum
WALRUSES A HERD or POD of walruses.
WASPS A PLADGE of wasps.

A PAIL of wasps.

A NEST of wasps.

Alexandra Bylczynski

WATERFOWL


A BUNCH, KNOB, TRIP or PLUMP* of waterfowl

* Courtesy of Melissa Bee
WEASELS A **BOOGLE, GANG, *CONFUSION or PACK of weasels.

** Contributed by Dr Scott A McGinlay BVMS MRCVS DVM

*Submitted by Wayne Bickley

WHALES


A SCHOOL, HERD or GAM of whales
A POD of whales (small school)
A GRIND of bottle nose whales

WIDGEON


A COMPANY or TRIP of widgeon

WILDFOWL


A BUNCH, TRIP or PLUMP of wildfowl.
A KNOB of wildfowl (less than 30)

WOLVES


A PACK or ROUT of wolves
WOODCOCKS A FALL of woodcocks.
WOODPECKERS A DESCENT of woodpeckers.

WRENS


A HERD of wrens

A CHIME of wrens Phillip Joss

And last but not least...

ZEBRAS A ZEAL, HERD or DAZZLE* of zebras

Out for a troll this fine evening, Justoo?

An informational (trivia) (s)troll.

And from the KMAYX time vault...it is hair, not hairs