Exploring Nature: Bird Words

Collective nouns are common in English, think of such assemblages as a flock of sheep, a den of thieves or a herd of cattle.

When it comes to birds, we use such terms as a murder of crows, a kettle of hawks and an exultation of larks. However, I recently came across some unusual collective names that are a bit on the frivolous side and sometimes involve puns. I present them for your perusal:

An alarm of bellbirds. A pie of blackbirds. A coward of chickens. A clock of cuckoos. A skinny of dippers and a conclave of cardinals.

Other unusual avian collectives are a lift of cranes, a gossip of babblers, a prince of kinglets and a derby of rollers.

Also, consider such untypical terms as a seat of catbirds, a monastery of monk parrots and a gulp of swallows.

And how about an outfield of flycatchers, a skinny of dippers and a display of manakins. Not to mention a romance of lovebirds, a fly of kites, a loom of weavers and a tie of knots.

Finally, and my favorite, a patter of pittas.