Sandhill Cranes

Did You Know? Flock Names

Articles

By Kari Zelinskas
[from winter 2025 newsletter]

Did you know there are different names for the flocks of birds? You might see a blush of Robins, a charm of Finches, or a confusion of Warblers.

Bird group names are not scientifically based; in fact, the first known list of collective names for birds originated in medieval literature! Most are named after peculiar habits or distinguishing traits such as a murmuration of starlings – the ongoing murmur caused by thousands of beating wings at once.

Here is a small sampling of bird group names that have been added to the list over the years:

  • Chickadees: banditry
  • Cardinals: vatican, college
  • Cowbirds: corral
  • Cranes: herd, sedge
  • Crows: murder, cauldron
  • Doves: dole, bevy
  • Geese: gaggle, plump
  • Gulls: colony, screech
  • Hawks: kettle, cast, boil
  • Herons: sedge
  • Hummingbirds: bouquet, glitter, shimmering
  • Jays: party, scold
  • Loons: asylum, cry
  • Owls: parliament, bazaar, glaring
  • Pheasants: bouquet
  • Ravens: congress
  • Sparrows: know, flutter, quarrel
  • Swallows: gulp, chattering
  • Swans: ballet, lamentation
  • Turkey: rafter, posse
  • Vultures: venue
  • Woodpeckers: decent
  • Wrens: herd, chime

Photo: Herd of Sandhill Crane
Leopold Memorial Reserve
Sauk County, WI (12/3/25)

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