List of English terms of venery, by animal

A skein of geese

This is a list of English terms of venery (venery being an archaic word for hunting), comprising terms from a tradition that arose in the Late Middle Ages, at least partly from the Book of Saint Albans of 1486. The list also includes more common collective terms (such as "herd" and "flock") for some animals.

Contents 

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

• See also
• References

Standard terms for particular groups are listed first in each group and shown in bold.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

Subject	Collective noun	Notes	Sources
A
antelopes	herd		[1]
ants	army		[2]
	colony		[2][3]
	nest		[2]
	swarm		[2]
apes	shrewdness		[1][4][5]
	troop		[2]
asses	herd		[2]
	drove	driven in a group	[2]
	pace or passe		[2][3]
B
baboons	troop		[2][5]
badgers	cete		[2][3][5][6]
bats	colony		[3]
bears	sleuth or sloth		[2][3][5]
beavers	colony		[2]
	family		[2]
bees	swarm		[5]
	drift		[5]
	erst		[5]
	grist		[3]
birds	flock		[5]
	flight		[5]
	pod		[5]
bitterns	sedge or sege		[3][4][7][8]
boars (wild boars)	sounder	12 or more	[6]
buffalo	herd		[3][5]
bullfinches	bellowing		[5]
bullocks	drove	driven in a group	[5]
butterflies	swarm		[9]
	flutter		[10]
C
capercaillie	tok		[11]
capons	mews		[12]
caribou	herd		[12]
cats	clowder		[2][3]
	pounce		[3]
wild cats (feral cats)	destruction		[5][13]
cattle	mob	driven in a group	[14]
chickens	clutch		[5]
choughs	chattering or clattering		[4][5][6][15][16]
colts	rag		[3][5][6]
	rake		[5]
cormorants	gulp		[3]
coots	covert		[4][5][8]
coyotes	pack
cranes	herd		[4][5][8]
	sedge or sege		[3][7]
crocodiles	bask		[3]
crows	murder		[3][5][6]
curlews	herd		[4][5][6][8]
D
deer	herd		[17]
	parcel		[18]
dogs	pack		[17]
dolphins	pod		[19][20]
dotterel	trip		[3][5][17][21]
doves	dole or dule	fanciful	[3][4][5][17]
	flight		[8]
ducks	badling or badelynge		[3][8]
	paddling	on water	[3][5][17]
	plump		[22][23]
	raft	on water	[3][5][17]
dunlins	fling		[5]
E
eagles	convocation		[3]
eels	bed		[2]
elephants	herd		[3]
elk	gang		[5][6]
	herd		[5]
F
falcons	cast		[24]
ferrets	business	corruption over time of 'busyness'	[3][6]
	busyness		[4]
	besyness fesynes fesnyng feamyng	ghost words arising from successive misspellings of "busyness"	[25]
finches	charm or chirm		[3][5]
fish	school		[3]
	shoal		[3]
flamingoes	stand		[3]
	flamboyance		[26]
flies	business		[3]
foxes	leash		[3]
	skulk		[3]
frogs	army		[3]
G
geese	flock	on land	[3][27]
	gaggle	on land	[3][8][27]
	skein	in flight	[3][27]
giraffes	herd		[27]
gnats	cloud		[3][5][27]
	horde		[3][27]
goats	flock		[27]
goldfinches	charm		[8][27]
goosanders	dopping		[27]
gorillas	band		[3][27]
goshawks	flight		[4][27]
grasshoppers	cloud		[3][27]
grouse	covey		[5][27]
guineafowl	rasp		[28]
H
hares	down		[29]
	drove		[29]
	flick		[29]
	husk		[29]
harts	herd		[29]
hawks	boil	two or more spiralling in flight	[3]
	cast		[3][4][5]
	kettle	flying in large numbers	[3]
	lease		[4]
hedgehogs	array		[29]
hens	brood		[8]
herons	sedge or sege		[3][4][6][7][8][29]
	siege		[3][5][29]
hippopotamuses	bloat		[3][29]
hogs	parcel	See also boars, pigs, swine	[30][31]
hornets	bike		[29]
	nest		[3]
	swarm		[29]
horses	team	in harness	[3][29]
	haras or harrase		[3][29]
	herd		[29]
	stable		[29]
	string		[3][29]
	stud		[3][29]
hounds	pack		[29]
	cry		[29]
	hunt		[29]
	meet		[29]
	mute		[29]
	stable		[29]
hyenas	cackle		[3]
I
ibex	herd		[32]
ibises	colony		[32]
iguanas	mess		[32]
insects	flight		[32]
	horde		[32]
	plague		[32]
	rabble		[32]
	swarm		[32]
J
jackdaws	clattering		[33]
	train		[33][34]
jays	party		[3]
	scold		[3]
jellyfish	fluther		[5]
	smack		[3][5]
K
kangaroos	mob		[2]
	troop		[2][3]
kittens	kindle		[5]
L
lapwings	deceit or desert		[3][4][5][6][35]
larks	bevy		[5]
	exaltation		[4][5][6][8]
leopards	leap or lepe		[2][3][5]
lions	pride		[2][3][5]
	sawt		[5]
locusts	plague		[3]
M
mackerel	shoal		[36]
magpies	charm		[3]
	congregation		[36]
	gulp		[3]
	murder		[3]
	tiding		[3][4][5][36]
	tittering		[36]
mallards	flush		[36]
	puddling		[36]
	sord		[3][5][8][36]
	suit or sute		[5][8][36]
mares	stud		[5][6][36]
martens	richesse or richness		[3][5][36]
mice	nest		[2][36]
	trip		[36]
minnows	shoal		[36]
moles	company		[36]
	labor or labour		[2][3][5][36]
monkeys	barrel		[2][3]
	cartload		[36]
	tribe		[36]
	troop		[3][5][36]
	wilderness		[37]
moorhens	plump		[36]
moose	herd		[2][36]
mosquitoes	scourge		[36]
mudhens	fleet		[36]
mules	barren		[2][3][5][6][36]
	pack		[3][36]
	rake		[36]
	span		[2][3][36]
N
nightingales	watch		[4][5][8]
O
owls	parliament		[2][3][6]
oxen	drove		[2]
	team		[2][3]
	yoke		[2][3]
oysters	bed		[2][3]
P
parrots	company		[2][3]
	pandemonium		[2]
partridges	covey		[3][5][8]
peacocks	muster		[3][5][6][8]
	ostentation		[2][3]
	pride		[2]
pelicans	pod		[2]
penguins	colony		[2][3]
	convent		[2]
pheasants	bouquet		[2][3]
	head		[5]
	nest		[3]
	nide		[3]
	nye		[2][3][5][6][8]
pigs	drift	See also boars, hogs, swine	[2][3]
	drove		[2][3]
pigeons	kit	flying together	[5]
plovers	congregation		[4][5][8]
	stand		[5]
	wing		[5]
Q
quail	bevy		[2][3][4][5][8]
	covey		[2][3]
	drift		[5]
R
rabbits	colony		[3]
	nest		[3]
	herd	domestic only	[3]
	litter	young rabbits only	[3]
raccoons	gaze		[2]
ravens	unkindness		[4][5]
rhinoceroses	crash		[2][3][5]
rooks	building		[4][5][8]
	parliament		[5][6]
S
salmon	bind		[38]
	draught		[38]
	run		[38]
sandpipers	fling		[38]
seals	herd		[38]
	pod		[38]
	rookery		[38]
sea urchins	herd		[39][40]
sheep	flock		[2][3][38]
	down		[38]
	drift	when driven in a group	[38]
	drove	when driven in a group	[3][38]
	herd		[3][38]
	hurtle		[2][38]
	meinie		[38]
	mob		[38]
	pack		[2]
	parcel		[38]
	trip		[38]
sheldrake	dopping		[8][38][41]
snails	escargatoire		[38]
	rout		[38]
	walk		[38]
snakes	bed		[2]
	den		[2]
	knot		[2]
	nest		[3]
	pit		[2]
snipes	walk		[5][6][8][38]
	whisp or wisp		[5][38]
sparrows	host		[2][3][4][5][8][38]
	meinie		[38]
	tribe		[38]
spiders	cluster or clutter		[2][38]
squirrels	colony		[38]
	dray		[2][3]
	scurry		[2][3]
starlings	chattering		[2][15][38]
	clattering		[38]
	cloud		[38]
	congregation		[38]
	murmuration		[2][4][5][6][8][38]
stoats	pack		[38]
	trip		[38]
storks	flight		[38]
	mustering		[2][3][38]
	phalanx	when migrating	[38]
swallows	flight		[2][3][8][38]
	gulp		[38]
swans	bank	on the ground	[2][38]
	bevy		[2][3][38]
	drift		[38]
	eyrar		[38]
	flight		[2]
	game		[5][38]
	herd		[2][8][38]
	lamentation	fanciful	[38]
	sownder		[38]
	team		[38]
	wedge	in flight	[2][3][5][38]
	whiting		[38]
swifts	flock		[38]
	scream		[42]
swine	doylt	See also boars, hogs, pigs	[38]
	drift		[6][38]
	trip		[38]
T
teal	spring		[3][4][5][8]
tigers	ambush		[2]
	streak		[2][3]
toads	knot		[2][3]
	nest		[2]
trout	hover		[2][3]
turkeys	gang		[3]
	rafter		[2][3]
turtles	bale		[2][3]
	dole or dule		[2][8]
	nest		[3]
turtle doves	dole or dule		[4]
	pitying		[3]
U
V
vipers	nest		[3]
W
walruses	herd		[3]
	pod		[3]
waterfowl	bunch		[5]
	knob		[5]
	raft		[5]
weasels	colony		[2]
	pack		[2]
whales	gam		[2][3]
	herd		[3]
	mob		[2]
	pod		[2][3]
wigeons	company		[3][5]
	trip		[5]
wildfowl	bunch		[5]
	knob	fewer than 30	[5]
	plump		[5]
	trip		[5]
wolves	pack		[2][3]
	rout or route	when in movement	[2][3]
wombats	wisdom		[43]
woodcocks	fall		[3][4][5][8]
woodpeckers	descent		[2][3][5]
wrens	herd		[4][5]
X
Y
Z
zebras	herd		[2][44]
	cohort		[44]
	dazzle		[45]
	zeal		[2][44]

Contents 

• Top
• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

• See also
• References

See also

• List of animal names

References

1. Pepper, Elizabeth (2003). Witches all (Revised, Illustrated ed.). Tiverton, Rhode Island: Witches' Almanac Limited. p. 41. ISBN 9781881098263.
2. "San Diego Zoo". archived copy of Animal group names. Zoological Society of San Diego. Archived from the original on July 4, 2013. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
3. "Common Questions: What Do You Call a Group of...?". archived copy of Animal Congregations, or What Do You Call a Group of.....?. U.S. Geological Survey Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. Archived from the original on March 20, 2015. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
4. Berners, Dame Juliana (1881) [1486]. The Boke of Saint Albans. Introduction by William Blades. London: Elliot Stock. Retrieved 2011-05-27.
5. "What do you call a group of ...?". Oxford Dictionaries. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
6. Schott, Ben (2002). Schott's Original Miscellany. London: Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 11. ISBN 0-7475-6320-9.
7. Definition of Sege by the Free Online Dictionary
8. Strutt, Joseph (1801). The Sports and Pastimes of the People of England. London: J. White. p. 28.
9. http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/
10. http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/monarch-butterfly/
11. British Trust for Ornithology - BirdFacts - Capercaillie
12. Faulkner, Mark; Lima Filho, Eduardo; Logan, Harriet; Mina, Miraphora (2013). A Compendium of Collective Nouns: From an Armory of Aardvarks to a Zeal of Zebras. Text by Jay Sacher. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. p. 37. ASIN B00CUSQNWO. ISBN 978-1-4521-2952-5. LCCN 2013-10190. OCLC 854853170.
13. Definition of Destruction by the Free Online Dictionary
14. mob. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved November 30, 2015 from Dictionary.com website http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mob
15. Definition of Chattering by the Free Online Dictionary
16. Definition of Clattering by the Free Online Dictionary
17. "AskOxford: D". archived copy of Collective Terms for Groups of Animals. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on October 20, 2008. Retrieved 2011-05-27.
18. Full text of "Days of deer-stalking in the Scottish Highlands; including an account of the nature and habits of the red deer, a description of the Scottish forests, and histor...
19. "Battle to save NY pod of dolphins". BBC News. 17 January 2007. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
20. A Pod of Dolphins - NASA Mars Collection
21. British Trust for Ornithology - BirdFacts - Dotterel
22. http://dictionary.infoplease.com/plump
23. Plump[4] - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary
24. "cast". Oxford English Dictionary (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. 1989.
25. Borgmann, Dmitri A. (1967). Beyond Language: Adventures in Word and Thought. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. pp. 79–80, 146, 251–254. OCLC 655067975.
26. "Animal Groups". About.com. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
27. "AskOxford: G". archived copy of Collective Terms for Groups of Animals. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on October 20, 2008. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
28. Lynn-Allen, Lieut.-Colonel B. G. (1951). Shot-gun and Sunlight - The Game Birds of East Africa. London: Batchworth Press.
29. "AskOxford: H". archived copy of Collective Terms for Groups of Animals. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on June 16, 2006. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
30. Avery Craven (1957). The coming of the Civil War. University of Chicago Press. p. 30. ISBN 0-226-11894-0.
31. Schoultz, Lars (1998). Beneath the United States. Harvard University Press. p. 1. ISBN 0-674-92276-X. They are lazy, dirty, nasty, and in short I can compare them to nothing but a parcel of hogs. (John Quincy Adams, age 12)
32. "AskOxford: I". archived copy of Collective Terms for Groups of Animals. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on October 20, 2008. Retrieved 2011-05-27.
33. Skull, Amanda. "Bird Watch - Jackdaw" (PDF). Bird Watch. British Trust for Ornithology. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
34. White, Gilbert (1833). The Natural History of Selborne. London, United Kingdom: N. Hailes. p. 163.
35. British Trust for Ornithology - BirdFacts - Lapwing
36. "AskOxford: M". archived copy of Collective Terms for Groups of Animals. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on October 20, 2008. Retrieved 2011-09-23.
37. Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice, Act III, Scene i
38. "AskOxford: S". archived copy of Collective Terms for Groups of Animals. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on October 20, 2008. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
39. "Balancing Act: Otters, Urchins and Kelp". Retrieved 2014-06-25.
40. "Blue Planet: The Deep".
41. Definition of Dopping by the Free Online Dictionary
42. British Trust for Ornithology - BirdFacts - Swift
43. "Animal Encounters - Nat Geo Wild".
44. "AskOxford: Z". Retrieved 2010-06-22.
45. van der Post, Laurens (1958). The Lost World of the Kalahari. Harcourt Brace & Company. p. 196.

Further reading

• John Hodgkin, 'Proper Terms: An Attempt at Rational Explanation of the Meanings of the Collection of Phrases in "The Book of St. Albans," 1486, Entitled "Companys of Beestys and Fowlys," and Similar Lists', Supplement to the Transactions of the Philological Society, 1907-1910.