Fun With Collective Nouns

A Murmuration of Starlings by Flickr user "Adam"

A collective noun, also known as terms of venery, refers to the term used to describe a group of individuals or animals. Sometimes these terms can change just by the action of the animals in the group. For instance, a gaggle is a term of venery for a flock of geese that isn't in flight; in flight, the group can be called a skein.

Listed below are some of the more colorful nouns used to describe different species of birds:

• A Chiming or Tintinnabulation of Bellbirds
• A Congress of Boobies
• A Mural or Palette of Painted Buntings
• A Baffle of Buffleheads
• A Banditry of Black-capped Chickadees
• A Earful of Waxwings
• A Conspiracy of Ravens
• A Cackle of Grackles
• A Improbability or Circus of Puffins
• A Jar of Nuthatches

Have one that you find particularly funny? Share it in the comments!

Cheers!