Learning animals collective nouns can be tricky for English learners. These words describe how animals are grouped, and using them correctly can enhance both speaking and writing.
This blog post helps learn collective nouns for land mammals, birds, aquatic creatures, reptiles, insects, and even mythical beings with real life examples.
Examples of Collective Nouns Animals
- A herd of elephants
- A pack of wolves
- A pride of lions
- A troop of monkeys
- A leap of leopards
- A sleuth or sloth of bears
- A mob of kangaroos
- A drove of cattle
- A sounder of pigs
- A colony of rabbits
- A clowder of cats
- A husk of hares
- A team of horses
- A yoke of oxen
- A gang of buffalo
- A parcel of deer
- A crash of rhinos
See also: 50+ Collective Nouns for Birds
List of Birds Collective Nouns
- A flock of birds
- A murder of crows
- A gaggle of geese (on land)
- A skein of geese (in flight)
- A parliament of owls
- A watch of nightingales
- A charm of finches
- A congregation of plovers
- A kit of pigeons
- A rookery of penguins
- A bevy of quails
- A tidings of magpies
- An unkindness of ravens
- A colony of gulls
- A company of parrots
- A descent of woodpeckers
Aquatic Animals Collective Nouns
- A school of fish
- A pod of dolphins
- A pod of whales
- A bale of turtles
- A herd of sea horses
- A shoal of mackerel
- A plague of jellyfish
- A bed of oysters
- A colony of seals
- A float of crocodiles (on water)
- A bask of crocodiles (on land)
- A cast of crabs
- A fever of stingrays
- A run of salmon
- A raft of ducks (on water)
Collective Nouns for Insects and Arachnids
- A swarm of bees
- A hive of bees
- A plague of locusts
- A colony of ants
- An army of ants
- A cloud of mosquitoes
- A flight of butterflies
- A rabble of butterflies
- A cluster of spiders
- A clutter of spiders
- A grist of flies
- A kaleidoscope of butterflies
- A nest of wasps
- A drift of fleas
Reptiles and Amphibians Collective Nouns
- A lounge of lizards
- A knot of snakes
- A pit of vipers
- A quiver of cobras
- A bale of toads
- An army of frogs
- A colony of salamanders
- A den of snakes
- A float of alligators
- A congregation of alligators
Mythical or Rare Creatures
- A flight of dragons
- A blessing of unicorns
- A horde of goblins
- A murder of wraiths
- A circle of fairies
- A shadow of ghosts
- A gathering of phoenixes
- A council of elders (for wise mythical beings)
- A parade of centaurs
- A storm of thunderbirds
- A mystery of sphinxes
- A roar of griffins
- A glare of basilisks
Sentences for Collective Nouns Animals
Here are short, sentences using collective nouns for animals:
- A pride of lions rested under the tree.
- A herd of elephants crossed the river.
- A flock of birds flew across the sky.
- A pack of wolves hunted together.
- A school of fish swam near the coral reef.
- A colony of ants gathered around the food.
- A swarm of bees surrounded the hive.
- A troop of monkeys played on the branches.
- A gaggle of geese walked through the field.
- A murder of crows sat on the fence.
- A pod of dolphins leapt out of the water.
- A litter of kittens slept in the basket.
- A clutch of eggs hatched this morning.
- A shoal of fish moved in perfect harmony.
- A hive of bees worked all day.
- A den of snakes hid among the rocks.
- A leap of leopards rested in the shade.
- A band of gorillas searched for food.
- A colony of bats hung from the cave ceiling.
- A team of horses pulled the carriage.
FAQs on Collective Nouns for Animals
A collective noun for animals is a word used to describe a group of animals of the same species. For example, a flock of birds or a herd of elephants.
Animal groups often have unique collective nouns based on their behavior, sound, or historical usage. These names make animal descriptions more vivid and specific.
The collective noun for lions is a pride.
A group of crows is famously called a murder of crows.
No. While herd is common, other collective nouns like pride, troop, mob, or pack are used depending on the animal.
Both are correct. School emphasizes synchronized movement, while shoal refers more generally to a large group.
A glaring of cats (if unfamiliar with each other).
A kindle of kittens (for baby cats).
An unkindness of ravens.
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