Animal and bird group names

We have been exploring the names of animal and birds for a couple of days, so it is appropriate to look at some names for a group of animals or birds. Actually, a couple of group names have been mentioned, but we will cover more.

Let’s begin with my favorite: A group of crows is called a murder. A couple of friends are driving to a fishing spot when they spot 10 crows flying together, not in any formation, but in a group just the same.

“Look, it’s a murder of crows,” one says.

Indeed, it is proper to term the group in such a manner, but was listening to a biologist talk about this once and he said, “You can call a group of crows what you want, but they are still technically a flock of crows.”

The guy was called a spoilsport by others in the group. How dare he ruin our fun of using other names for a group of crows. While names, such as a murder, are not technically correct, it is fun to use them. Other names for a group of crows are a horde, hover, muster and parcel.

Most of us know a group of geese on the ground is called a gaggle. A group of elementary-school children on the playground can, also, be called a gaggle. Likewise, a group of adults at a cocktail party can be termed a gaggle. The word gaggle also means a group, horde, throng, multitude, mob or pack. In the air a group of geese can be called a skein, a team or a wedge.

This is no surprise: A group of gnats are called a cloud or horde.

A group of bears is called a sleuth or a sloth, which, apparently has to do with slow moving bears. Where does one see a group of bears?

The Northwest Outdoor Writers’ Association held their annual conference in Choteau, MT a couple of years ago. A video appeared on Google of seven grizzly bears together near the town.

Google seven grizzly bears filmed together near Choteau and the video will appear. Also, most of us have seen videos of the bears gathering to eat salmon on Alaska rivers.

A group of ravens is called an unkindness, as in an unkindness of ravens, but why is not clear. A group of ptarmigan, quail and some other game birds are called a covey. A number of people in the Columbia Basin have a covey of quail living near their house.

Tomorrow: The final chapter in the animal and bird name series.