300 Animal Group Names – Collective Nouns for Wildlife

Have you ever wondered what to call a group of animals? From a parliament of owls to a murder of crows, the English language is filled with fascinating and quirky collective nouns for wildlife. These terms aren’t just fun to say; they often reflect the behavior, characteristics, or historical interpretations of the animals. In this article, you’ll find a comprehensive and alphabetical list of 300 Animal Group Names, including everything from well-known terms to obscure and amusing ones. Whether you’re a trivia lover, writer, educator, or just curious, this list is sure to entertain and enlighten!

A–C Animal Group Names

Animals from A to C offer some of the most iconic and fun group names in the animal kingdom. These collective nouns range from majestic to downright quirky. Here are 40 group names starting with A, B, or C:

1. Ants – An army of ants
2. Apes – A shrewdness of apes
3. Albatrosses – A colony of albatrosses
4. Hyenas – A cackle or clan of hyenas
5. Crocodiles – A bask of crocodiles
6. Butterflies – A flight of butterflies
7. Bees – A swarm of bees
8. Chicks – A brood of chicks
9. Cats – A clowder of cats
10. Cheetahs – A coalition of cheetahs
11. Camels – A caravan of camels
12. Caimans – A bask of caimans
13. Budgerigars – A chatter of budgerigars
14. Coyotes – A band of coyotes
15. Cats (wild) – A cluster of cats
16. Parrots – A company of parrots
17. Eagles – A convocation of eagles
18. Alligators – A congregation of alligators
19. Bats – A cloud of bats
20. Rhinos – A crash of rhinos
21. Spiders – A clutter of spiders
22. Quail – A covey of quail
23. Crickets – A chorus of crickets
24. Falcons – A cast of falcons
25. Finches – A charm of finches
26. Chinchillas – A colony of chinchillas
27. Llamas – A caravan of llamas
28. Kangaroos – A court of kangaroos
29. Bobcats – A chain of bobcats
30. Crocodiles – A congregation of crocodiles
31. Chickens – A clutch of chickens
32. Eagles – A court of eagles
33. Chimpanzees – A cadre of chimpanzees
34. Coots – A cover of coots
35. Crabs – A cast of crabs
36. Creatures – A collection of creatures
37. Koalas – A clump of koalas
38. Capybaras – A cabal of capybaras
39. Canaries – A chorus of canaries
40. Badgers – A camp of badgers

D–F Animal Group Names

From ducks to foxes, the D–F section includes animals we often see but might not know the quirky group names for. Let’s dive into these delightful and sometimes surprising collective nouns:

1. Doves – A dole of doves
2. Woodpeckers – A descent of woodpeckers
3. Pigs – A drift of pigs
4. Cattle – A drove of cattle
5. Doves – A dule of doves
6. Zebras – A dazzle of zebras
7. Turtles – A dole of turtles
8. Dormice – A dozing of dormice
9. Lizards – A daub of lizards
10. Flamingos – A droop of flamingos
11. Foxes – A den of foxes
12. Sheep – A drove of sheep
13. Squirrels – A dray of squirrels
14. Flies – A dance of flies
15. Ducks – A dive of ducks
16. Dragonflies – A droop of dragonflies
17. Woodpeckers – A drum of woodpeckers
18. Ducks – A flutter of ducks
19. Dolphins – A flick of dolphins
20. Crocodiles – A float of crocodiles
21. Flies – A filth of flies
22. Ducks – A family of ducks
23. Ducks – A flush of ducks
24. Doves – A flight of doves
25. Ducks – A flight of ducks
26. Flamingos – A flamboyance of flamingos
27. Stingrays – A fever of stingrays
28. Weasels – A fest of weasels
29. Birds – A flock of birds
30. Sheep – A fold of sheep
31. Sparrows – A fusion of sparrows
32. Lambs – A fall of lambs
33. Jellyfish – A fluther of jellyfish
34. Falcons – A flight of falcons
35. Snow Geese – A flurry of snow geese
36. Horses – A field of horses
37. Otters – A float of otters
38. Hares – A flick of hares
39. Swallows – A flight of swallows
40. Ferrets – A family of ferrets

G–I Animal Group Names

This section includes some majestic and mysterious animals from giraffes to iguanas. Their collective nouns are just as captivating:

1. Geese – A gaggle of geese
2. Cormorants – A gulp of cormorants
3. Elk – A gang of elk
4. Gorillas – A group of gorillas
5. Flying Fish – A glide of flying fish
6. Eagles – A gathering of eagles
7. Peacocks – A gallery of peacocks
8. Cats – A glare of cats
9. Whales – A gam of whales
10. Turkeys – A gang of turkeys
11. Pugs – A grumble of pugs
12. Swans – A gulp of swans
13. Raccoons – A gaze of raccoons
14. Geckos – A glide of geckos
15. Gazelles – A group of gazelles
16. Ponies – A gallop of ponies
17. Sheep – A gang of sheep
18. Goslings – A gaggle of goslings
19. Hummingbirds – A glitter of hummingbirds
20. Giraffes – A group of giraffes
21. Goats – A herd of goats
22. Guinea Pigs – A herd of guinea pigs
23. Locusts – A horde of locusts
24. Trout – A hover of trout
25. Seals – A harem of seals
26. Songbirds – A harmony of songbirds
27. Bees – A hive of bees
28. Hamsters – A hoard of hamsters
29. Horses – A herd of horses
30. Wasps – A hover of wasps
31. Penguins – A huddle of penguins
32. Sparrows – A host of sparrows
33. Walruses – A huddle of walruses
34. Ibex – A herd of ibex
35. Hummingbirds – A hover of hummingbirds
36. Iguanas – An intrigue of iguanas
37. Fish – A hull of fish
38. Owls – A hoot of owls
39. Toads – A hop of toads
40. Hartebeests – A herd of hartebeests

J–L Animal Group Names

From jittery jackals to leaping leopards, this section covers collective nouns for animals beginning with J, K, and L. These group names reveal a lot about animal behavior and human creativity in language.

1. Jackals – A pack or skulk of jackals
2. Jaguars – A shadow or leap of jaguars
3. Jays – A band or scold of jays
4. Jellyfish – A smack or bloom of jellyfish
5. Jackrabbits – A drove of jackrabbits
6. Japanese Macaques – A troop of macaques
7. Jerboas – A jump of jerboas
8. Jackdaws – A train of jackdaws
9. Junglefowl – A brood or peep of junglefowl
10. Jumping Spiders – A school of jumping spiders
11. Kangaroos – A mob or troop of kangaroos
12. Kestrels – A soar of kestrels
13. Kingfishers – A concentration of kingfishers
14. Kob Antelope – A herd of kob antelope
15. Koalas – A cling of koalas
16. Komodo Dragons – A bank of komodo dragons
17. Kookaburras – A riot of kookaburras
18. Krill – A cloud or swarm of krill
19. Kudus – A herd or clan of kudus
20. Ladybugs – A loveliness of ladybugs
21. Lambs – A flock or drove of lambs
22. Lapwings – A deceit of lapwings
23. Larks – An exaltation of larks
24. Leeches – A stuck of leeches
25. Lemurs – A conspiracy of lemurs
26. Leopards – A leap of leopards
27. Lice – A flock of lice
28. Lions – A pride or troop of lions
29. Lizards – A lounge of lizards
30. Loons – An asylum of loons
31. Loris – A slumber of loris
32. Locusts – A plague or cloud of locusts
33. Lobsters – A risk or pod of lobsters
34. Llamas – A herd or pack of llamas
35. Loggerhead Turtles – A bale of turtles
36. Langurs – A troop of langurs
37. Leafcutter Ants – An army of leafcutters
38. Lynxes – A chain of lynxes
39. Lapdogs – A snuggle of lapdogs

M–O Animal Group Names

From mischievous monkeys to majestic moose, animals in the M to O range offer some of the most memorable and amusing group names. Whether you’re interested in ocean life or land mammals, this section dives into quirky, clever, and classic Animal Group Names starting with the letters M through O.

1. Magpies – A tiding of magpies
2. Mallards – A sord of mallards
3. Manatees – An aggregation of manatees
4. Mandrills – A troop of mandrills
5. Manta Rays – A squadron of manta rays
6. Martens – A richness of martens
7. Meerkats – A mob of meerkats
8. Mice – A mischief of mice
9. Minnows – A shoal of minnows
10. Minks – A richness of minks
11. Moles – A labor of moles
12. Moose – A herd of moose
13. Mosquitoes – A scourge of mosquitoes
14. Moths – An eclipse of moths
15. Mountain Goats – A herd of mountain goats
16. Mules – A barren of mules
17. Mussels – A bed of mussels
18. Myotis Bats – A cauldron of myotis
19. Macaws – A pandemonium of macaws
20. Mongooses – A pack of mongooses
21. Monkeys – A troop of monkeys
22. Moray Eels – A swarm of moray eels
23. Mockingbirds – An echo of mockingbirds
24. Mayflies – A cloud of mayflies
25. Moorhens – A plump of moorhens
26. Millipedes – A crawl of millipedes
27. Mountain Lions – A pride of mountain lions
28. Magellanic Penguins – A colony of Magellanic penguins
29. Monitor Lizards – A creep of monitor lizards
30. Mandarinfish – A school of mandarinfish
31. Marine Iguanas – A bask of marine iguanas
32. Marmots – A collective of marmots
33. Mudskippers – A flick of mudskippers
34. Mynas – A chatter of mynas
35. Marsh Frogs – A chorus of marsh frogs
36. Musk Oxen – A herd of musk oxen
37. Olive Baboons – A troop of olive baboons
38. Ocelots – A leap of ocelots
39. Orioles – A pitch of orioles
40. Ostriches – A wobble of ostriches

P–R Animal Group Names

From playful porcupines to regal rhinoceroses, the P to R section includes a variety of animals with group names that are fascinating, funny, or downright majestic. Whether flying, crawling, or galloping, these creatures come together in groups with titles that reflect their nature.

1. Pandas – An embarrassment of pandas
2. Panthers – A claw of panthers
3. Parrots – A pandemonium of parrots
4. Partridges – A covey of partridges
5. Peacocks – An ostentation of peacocks
6. Pelicans – A squadron of pelicans
7. Penguins – A waddle of penguins
8. Pheasants – A bouquet of pheasants
9. Pigs – A sounder of pigs
10. Pigeons – A kit of pigeons
11. Piranhas – A shiver of piranhas
12. Platypuses – A paddle of platypuses
13. Polar Bears – A celebration of polar bears
14. Porcupines – A prickle of porcupines
15. Porpoises – A turmoil of porpoises
16. Possums – A passel of possums
17. Prairie Dogs – A coterie of prairie dogs
18. Puffins – A circus of puffins
19. Pumas – A leap of pumas
20. Pythons – A knot of pythons
21. Quails – A bevy of quails
22. Quokkas – A smile of quokkas
23. Quolls – A cluster of quolls
24. Rabbits – A fluffle of rabbits
25. Raccoons – A gaze of raccoons
26. Rails – A rall of rails
27. Rams – A mob of rams
28. Rats – A colony of rats
29. Rattlesnakes – A rhumba of rattlesnakes
30. Ravens – An unkindness of ravens
31. Red Deer – A bevy of red deer
32. Red Foxes – A skulk of red foxes
33. Reindeer – A herd of reindeer
34. Rhinoceroses – A crash of rhinoceroses
35. Robins – A round of robins
36. Rooks – A building of rooks
37. Roosters – A crowing of roosters
38. Rottweilers – A pack of rottweilers
39. River Otters – A romp of river otters
40. Ringtail Lemurs – A conspiracy of ringtail lemurs

S–U Animal Group Names

This section explores animal group names beginning with S, T, and U—ranging from slithering serpents to underwater creatures and unique birds. These names offer both humor and historical flair, making them great for trivia lovers, educators, and animal enthusiasts alike.

1. Salamanders – A congress of salamanders
2. Salmon – A run of salmon
3. Sandpipers – A bind of sandpipers
4. Sardines – A family of sardines
5. Scorpions – A bed of scorpions
6. Sea Lions – A pod of sea lions
7. Seahorses – A herd of seahorses
8. Seals – A herd of seals
9. Sharks – A shiver of sharks
10. Sheep – A flock of sheep
11. Shrews – A caravan of shrews
12. Skunks – A surfeit of skunks
13. Sloths – A bed of sloths
14. Snails – An escargatoire of snails
15. Snakes – A den of snakes
16. Sparrows – A host of sparrows
17. Spiders – A cluster of spiders
18. Squirrels – A dray of squirrels
19. Starfish – A constellation of starfish
20. Starlings – A murmuration of starlings
21. Stingrays – A fever of stingrays
22. Stoats – A gang of stoats
23. Swans – A bevy of swans
24. Swine – A sounder of swine
25. Swordfish – A flash of swordfish
26. Tahr – A knuckle of tahr
27. Takin – A herd of takin
28. Tamarin Monkeys – A troop of tamarins
29. Tapirs – A candle of tapirs
30. Tarantulas – A cluster of tarantulas
31. Termites – A colony of termites
32. Terns – A tangle of terns
33. Thrushes – A mutation of thrushes
34. Tigers – An ambush of tigers
35. Toads – A knot of toads
36. Turkeys – A rafter of turkeys
37. Turtles – A bale of turtles
38. Uakaris – A troop of uakaris
39. Umbrella Birds – A blob of umbrella birds
40. Urchins – A herd of urchins

V–X Animal Group Names

Welcome to the world of animals beginning with V, W, and X—an exciting blend of real and rare creatures. This section captures the collective nouns for both familiar favorites and lesser-known species. These terms are perfect for impressing nature buffs or adding charm to educational content.

1. Vampire Bats – A cauldron of vampire bats
2. Vervet Monkeys – A troop of vervet monkeys
3. Vicunas – A herd of vicunas
4. Vipers – A nest of vipers
5. Vultures – A wake of vultures
6. Vaquitas – A pod of vaquitas
7. Velvet Worms – A cluster of velvet worms
8. Vine Snakes – A tangle of vine snakes
9. Variegated Squirrels – A dray of variegated squirrels
10. Vangas – A flock of vangas
11. Viscachas – A colony of viscachas
12. Vlei Rats – A mischief of vlei rats
13. Violet Cuckoos – A charm of violet cuckoos
14. Vulturine Guineafowl – A confusion of guineafowl
15. Velvet Ants – A swarm of velvet ants
16. Vesper Bats – A cloud of vesper bats
17. Vinegaroons – A threat of vinegaroons
18. Vine Weevils – A mass of vine weevils
19. Virginia Opossums – A passel of opossums
20. Vagrant Butterflies – A flutter of vagrants
21. Wallabies – A mob of wallabies
22. Walruses – A herd of walruses
23. Warthogs – A sounder of warthogs
24. Wasps – A nest of wasps
25. Water Buffalo – An obstinacy of buffalo
26. Waterfowl – A plump of waterfowl
27. Weasels – A confusion of weasels
28. Weavers – A colony of weavers
29. Whales – A pod of whales
30. Whippets – A snap of whippets
31. Whip Scorpions – A crowd of whip scorpions
32. White-tailed Deer – A herd of deer
33. Whooping Cranes – A sedge of cranes
34. Wild Dogs – A pack of wild dogs
35. Wild Turkeys – A rafter of turkeys
36. Wildcats – A destruction of wildcats
37. Wolves – A pack of wolves
38. Wombats – A wisdom of wombats
39. Woodpeckers – A descent of woodpeckers
40. Wrens – A herd of wrens

Y–Z Animal Group Names

Our final stretch takes us through the rarest collective nouns for animals beginning with Y and Z. These unique creatures, though not as numerous, still have creative and surprising group names that round out our animal alphabet adventure beautifully.

1. Yabbies – A catch of yabbies
2. Yak – A herd of yak
3. Yellowjackets – A swarm of yellowjackets
4. Yellowhammers – A hammer of yellowhammers
5. Yellowthroats – A chorus of yellowthroats
6. Yelpers – A choir of yelpers
7. Yaks (wild) – A mob of wild yaks
8. Yellow-eyed Penguins – A parade of penguins
9. Yeti Crabs – A tangle of yeti crabs
10. Yaffle Birds – A laughter of yaffles
11. Yarragadee Ants – A swarm of yarragadees
12. Yponomeutid Moths – A cloud of yponomeutids
13. Yew Caterpillars – A thread of caterpillars
14. Yeti Lobsters – A bunch of yeti lobsters
15. Yellow Ants – A colony of yellow ants
16. Yew Weevils – A host of weevils
17. Yellowfin Tuna – A school of yellowfin tuna
18. Yellow Butterflies – A flutter of yellow butterflies
19. Yellow-necked Mice – A nest of mice
20. Yarrak Birds – A flight of yarraks
21. Zebras – A dazzle of zebras
22. Zebrafish – A shoal of zebrafish
23. Zebu – A herd of zebu
24. Zebra Sharks – A group of zebra sharks
25. Zokors – A colony of zokors
26. Zonkeys – A herd of zonkeys
27. Zorillas – A stench of zorillas
28. Zosterops – A flock of zosterops
29. Zebu Cattle – A yoke of cattle
30. Zander Fish – A drift of zander
31. Zapata Wren – A chorus of wrens
32. Zebra Doves – A flight of doves
33. Zenaida Doves – A bevy of doves
34. Zebra Finches – A charm of finches
35. Zander – A shiver of zander
36. Zorro Foxes – A skulk of foxes
37. Zebra Mice – A scurry of mice
38. Zinnia Beetles – A cluster of beetles
39. Zigzag Herons – A siege of herons
40. Zulu Sheep – A flock of sheep

Concluding Animal Group Names

From herds to flutters, dazzles to murmurations, the world of animal group names is as colorful as nature itself. These collective nouns aren’t just amusing—they tell a story, capture behavior, and even reflect centuries-old linguistic charm. Whether you’re a trivia buff, writer, teacher, or animal lover, we hope this A–Z guide gave you inspiration, fun facts, and new ways to describe the animal kingdom. Feel free to revisit or share your favorite names, and explore the surprising beauty of language through wildlife!

FAQs

What are animal group names and why do they exist?

Animal group names, also known as collective nouns, are special terms used to describe a group of animals of the same species. These terms often reflect the behavior, appearance, or folklore associated with the animals, and add color and precision to the English language.

Are animal group names officially recognized by scientists?

While many animal group names are used in common or literary English, not all are officially recognized in scientific taxonomy. However, many terms like “herd,” “pack,” or “flock” are commonly accepted in zoological and biological contexts.

What are the most unusual animal group names?

Some of the most quirky animal group names include a “murder of crows,” a “flamboyance of flamingos,” a “parliament of owls,” and a “crash of rhinos.” These names often stem from medieval English or poetic language.

Can the same animal have more than one group name?

Yes, many animals have multiple group names depending on their context or behavior. For example, a group of geese on land is called a “gaggle,” while in flight they’re known as a “skein” or a “wedge.”

How can I use these names in education or writing?

Animal group names are excellent for creative writing, wildlife education, games, and classroom activities. They help build vocabulary and foster curiosity about the natural world.

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