ANIMALS AND ENGLISH
  • Introduction
    • English Grammar + Animals
    • Acknowledgements
  • Animals Facts
    • Categories >
      • Feeding Categories
      • Phobia Categories
    • Camouflage
    • Amazing + Bizarre
    • Animal + Insect Eating Plants
    • Animal + Bird Tail Functions
    • Anthropomorphism
    • Extinct >
      • On the brink of extinction
    • Friendships to make you smile ...
    • National Emblems
    • Newly Discovered Species
    • Newly Discovered Fossils
    • Sounds
    • Symbolism >
      • American Groundhog Day
      • The Chinese Calendar
      • Native American
      • Celtic Mythology
    • The Most Dangerous Species
  • Animals: A-Z
    • A >
      • Aardvarks >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Albatrosses >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Alligators >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Antelopes >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Ants >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Apes and Monkeys >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Armadillos >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Auks >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Avocets >
        • Collective Noun
    • B >
      • Badgers >
        • Collective Nouns. etc.
      • Barracuda >
        • Collective Noun
      • Bats >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Bears >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Beavers >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Bees >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Beetles, Bugs + Insects >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Birds >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
        • Beaks ...
        • Feathers ... >
          • Collective Nouns, etc.
        • Tails
        • Wings ...
      • Bison + Buffalos >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Butterflies >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Bush Babies >
        • Collective Nouns
    • C >
      • Camels >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Cats >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Cheetahs >
        • Collective Noun
      • Chickens >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Chimpanzees >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Chinchillas >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Cows and Bulls >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Coyotes >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Crocodiles >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Crustaceans >
        • Collective Nouns
    • D >
      • Deer >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Dinosaurs >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Dogs >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Dolphins + Porpoises >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Donkeys + Mules >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Ducks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Dugongs >
        • Collective Nouns
    • E >
      • Eagles >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Echidnas and Platypus >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Eels >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Eggs ... >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Elephants >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Emus >
        • Collective Noun
    • F >
      • Ferrets >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Fish >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Flies >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Foxes >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Frogs >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
    • G >
      • Geese >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Gerbils and Hamsters >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Giraffes >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Goats >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
    • H >
      • Hares and Rabbits >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Hawks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Hedgehogs >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Hippopotamuses >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Horses and Ponies >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Hyenas >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
    • J >
      • Jays >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Jellyfish >
        • Collective Nouns
    • K >
      • Kangaroos >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Koalas >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Komodo Dragons >
        • Collective Noun
    • L >
      • Lemurs >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Leopards >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Lions >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Lizards >
        • Collect Nouns
      • Llamas >
        • Collective Nouns
    • M >
      • Magpies >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Manatees >
        • Collective Noun
      • Martens >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Meerkats >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Mice >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Moles >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Molluscs >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Mongoose >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Mosquitoes >
        • Collective Nouns
    • O >
      • Okapis >
        • Collective Noun
      • Ostriches >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Otters >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Owls >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Oxen >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
    • P >
      • Peacocks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Pigeons and Doves >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Pigs, Boars and Warthogs >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Polecats >
        • Collective Noun
      • Porcupines >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Prairie Dogs >
        • Collective Nouns
    • R >
      • Raccoons >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Rats >
        • Collective Noun, etc.
      • Rhinoceroses >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Robins >
        • Collective Noun
    • S >
      • Salamanders >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Scorpions >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Sea Stars / Star Fish >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Sea Lions >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Seahorses >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Seals >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Sharks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Sheep >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Shrews >
        • Collective Noun
      • Skunks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Snakes >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Spiders >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Springbok >
        • Collective Noun
      • Squirrels >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Starlings >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Stingrays >
        • Collective Noun
      • Stoats >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Swallows >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Swans >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Swifts >
        • Collective Nouns
    • T >
      • Tapirs >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Termites >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Thrushes >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Ticks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Tigers >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Toads >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Tortoises and Turtles >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Trout >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Turkeys >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Turtle Doves >
        • Collective Nouns
    • V >
      • Voles >
        • Collective Noun
      • Vultures >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
    • W >
      • Wallabies >
        • Collective Noun
      • Walruses >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Water Buffaloes >
        • Collective Noun
      • Wasps >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Weasles >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Whales >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Wolverine >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Wolves >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Wombats >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Woodcocks >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Woodpeckers >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Worms >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Wrens >
        • Collective Nouns
    • Y >
      • Yaks >
        • Collective Nouns
    • Z >
      • Zebras >
        • Collective Nouns
  • Collective Nouns A-Z
    • A
    • B
    • C
    • D
    • E
    • F
    • G
    • H
    • I
    • J
    • K
    • L
    • M
    • N
    • O
    • P
    • Q
    • R
    • S
    • T
    • U
    • V
    • W
    • Y
    • Z
  • Similes -A-Z
    • A
    • B
    • C
    • D
    • E
    • F
    • G
    • H
    • I
    • L
    • M
    • N
    • O
    • P
    • Q
    • S
    • T
    • U and V
    • W
  • PET HEALTH AND TIPS
    • FMO BONES
    • HARMFUL FOODS
    • TIPS
  • Introduction
    • English Grammar + Animals
    • Acknowledgements
  • Animals Facts
    • Categories >
      • Feeding Categories
      • Phobia Categories
    • Camouflage
    • Amazing + Bizarre
    • Animal + Insect Eating Plants
    • Animal + Bird Tail Functions
    • Anthropomorphism
    • Extinct >
      • On the brink of extinction
    • Friendships to make you smile ...
    • National Emblems
    • Newly Discovered Species
    • Newly Discovered Fossils
    • Sounds
    • Symbolism >
      • American Groundhog Day
      • The Chinese Calendar
      • Native American
      • Celtic Mythology
    • The Most Dangerous Species
  • Animals: A-Z
    • A >
      • Aardvarks >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Albatrosses >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Alligators >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Antelopes >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Ants >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Apes and Monkeys >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Armadillos >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Auks >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Avocets >
        • Collective Noun
    • B >
      • Badgers >
        • Collective Nouns. etc.
      • Barracuda >
        • Collective Noun
      • Bats >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Bears >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Beavers >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Bees >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Beetles, Bugs + Insects >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Birds >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
        • Beaks ...
        • Feathers ... >
          • Collective Nouns, etc.
        • Tails
        • Wings ...
      • Bison + Buffalos >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Butterflies >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Bush Babies >
        • Collective Nouns
    • C >
      • Camels >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Cats >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Cheetahs >
        • Collective Noun
      • Chickens >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Chimpanzees >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Chinchillas >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Cows and Bulls >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Coyotes >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Crocodiles >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Crustaceans >
        • Collective Nouns
    • D >
      • Deer >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Dinosaurs >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Dogs >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Dolphins + Porpoises >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Donkeys + Mules >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Ducks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Dugongs >
        • Collective Nouns
    • E >
      • Eagles >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Echidnas and Platypus >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Eels >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Eggs ... >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Elephants >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Emus >
        • Collective Noun
    • F >
      • Ferrets >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Fish >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Flies >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Foxes >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Frogs >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
    • G >
      • Geese >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Gerbils and Hamsters >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Giraffes >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Goats >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
    • H >
      • Hares and Rabbits >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Hawks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Hedgehogs >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Hippopotamuses >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Horses and Ponies >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Hyenas >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
    • J >
      • Jays >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Jellyfish >
        • Collective Nouns
    • K >
      • Kangaroos >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Koalas >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Komodo Dragons >
        • Collective Noun
    • L >
      • Lemurs >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Leopards >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Lions >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Lizards >
        • Collect Nouns
      • Llamas >
        • Collective Nouns
    • M >
      • Magpies >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Manatees >
        • Collective Noun
      • Martens >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Meerkats >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Mice >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Moles >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Molluscs >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Mongoose >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Mosquitoes >
        • Collective Nouns
    • O >
      • Okapis >
        • Collective Noun
      • Ostriches >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Otters >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Owls >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Oxen >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
    • P >
      • Peacocks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Pigeons and Doves >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Pigs, Boars and Warthogs >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Polecats >
        • Collective Noun
      • Porcupines >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Prairie Dogs >
        • Collective Nouns
    • R >
      • Raccoons >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Rats >
        • Collective Noun, etc.
      • Rhinoceroses >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Robins >
        • Collective Noun
    • S >
      • Salamanders >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Scorpions >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Sea Stars / Star Fish >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Sea Lions >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Seahorses >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Seals >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Sharks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Sheep >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Shrews >
        • Collective Noun
      • Skunks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Snakes >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Spiders >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Springbok >
        • Collective Noun
      • Squirrels >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Starlings >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Stingrays >
        • Collective Noun
      • Stoats >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Swallows >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Swans >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Swifts >
        • Collective Nouns
    • T >
      • Tapirs >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Termites >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Thrushes >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Ticks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Tigers >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Toads >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Tortoises and Turtles >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Trout >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Turkeys >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Turtle Doves >
        • Collective Nouns
    • V >
      • Voles >
        • Collective Noun
      • Vultures >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
    • W >
      • Wallabies >
        • Collective Noun
      • Walruses >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Water Buffaloes >
        • Collective Noun
      • Wasps >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Weasles >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Whales >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Wolverine >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Wolves >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Wombats >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Woodcocks >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Woodpeckers >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Worms >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Wrens >
        • Collective Nouns
    • Y >
      • Yaks >
        • Collective Nouns
    • Z >
      • Zebras >
        • Collective Nouns
  • Collective Nouns A-Z
    • A
    • B
    • C
    • D
    • E
    • F
    • G
    • H
    • I
    • J
    • K
    • L
    • M
    • N
    • O
    • P
    • Q
    • R
    • S
    • T
    • U
    • V
    • W
    • Y
    • Z
  • Similes -A-Z
    • A
    • B
    • C
    • D
    • E
    • F
    • G
    • H
    • I
    • L
    • M
    • N
    • O
    • P
    • Q
    • S
    • T
    • U and V
    • W
  • PET HEALTH AND TIPS
    • FMO BONES
    • HARMFUL FOODS
    • TIPS
Collective Nouns, Similes, Idioms, Metaphors and Expressions
Birds
Picture
ALBINA PEACOCK
Picture
PEACOCK
SIMILES
Birds:
  • As blithe as a bird
  • As free as a bird
Chickens:
  • As tender as a chicken
Coots:
  • As bald as a coot
Dodos: 
  • As dead as a dodo
Doves:
  • As gentle as a dove
  • As innocent as a dove
Ducks:
  • As a duck to water
  • As lame as a duck
  • Like a sitting duck
  • As readily and as naturally as duckling take to water
Jay Birds:
  • As naked as a jay bird
Larks:
  • As happy as a lark
Owls:
  • As drunk as a boiled owl
  • As wise as an owl
Parrots:
  • As sick as a parrot
Peacocks:
  • As happy as a peacock
  • As proud as a peacock
  • As vain as a peacock
Turkeys:
  • As freckled as a turkey's egg
Turtle Doves:
  • As gentle as a turtle dove
Eggs:
  • As innocent as a new laid egg

​COLLECTIVE NOUNS
  • A congregation of birds
  • A colony of birds  ...  roosting in large numbers
  • ​A dissimulation of birds  ...  small birds
  • A drift of birds  ....  in flight
  • ​A fleet of birds
  • A flight of birds ... in flight
  • A flock of birds
  • A knob of birds ... game
  • A parcel of birds
  • A plump of birds . ... game birds
  • A rush of birds ... in migration
  • A parliament of fowl
  • A plump of fowl
  • A pod of birds
  • A setting of eggs
  • A volary of birds
  • ​A wreck of birds ... sea birds
​Albatross
  •      A rookery of albatrosses
Bitterns
  •       A prettying of bitterns      
  • ​      A sedge of bitterns
  •       A siege of bitterns
Blackbirds
  •      A grind of blackbirds
  • ​     A merl of blackbirds
Budgerigars
  •       A chatter of budgerigars
  •       A clatter of budgerigars
  •       A flock of budgerigars
Bullfinches
  •       A bellowing of bullfinches
  •       A lowing of bullfinches
  • ​      A volary of bullfinches
Bustards
  •        A flock of bustards      
  •        A wake of bustards
Buzzards
  •        A pack of buzzards      
  • ​       A wake of buzzards
Capercaillies
  •       A tok of capercaillies
Chickens
  •       A brood of chickens / chicks / hens
  •       A chattering of chickens / chicks
  •       A clutch of chicken's eggs
  •       A flock of chickens
  •       A mews of capons (male chickens)
  •       A peep of chickens
  •       A run of poultry
Cockatoos
  •       A chattering of cockatoos    
  •      A crackle of cockatoos
Coots
  •      A co-operation of coots
  •      A cover of coots
  •      A covert of coots            
  •      A commotion of coots     
  •      A fleet of coots                
  •      A flock of coots
  •      A pod of coots                 
  •      A raft of coots
  •      A rasp of coots
  •      A swarm of coots
Cormorant     
  •       A gulp of cormorants       
  •       A flight of cormorants
Crane     
  •      A flock of cranes      
  •      A sedge of cranes            
  •      A siege of cranes
  •      A herd of cranes
Crow    
  •      A caucus of crows
  •      A cauldron of crows
  •      A congress of crows
  •      A head of crows
  • ​     A herd of crows
  •      A horde of crows
  •      A hover of crows
  • ​     A murder of crows
  •      A parcel of crows
  •      A storytelling of crows
Curlews
  •      A wedge of curlews
Doves
  •      A bevy of doves     
  •      A dole of doves
  •      A dule of doves
  •      A covey of doves
  •      A padding of doves
  •      A piteousness of doves
  •      A pitying of doves
  •      A pretence of doves
​Ducks
  •      A badelynge of ducks
  •      A bunch of ducks
  •      A dropping of ducks
  •      A flush of ducks
  •      A plump of ducks
  •      A waddling of ducks
  •      A string of ducks
     In the water
  •      A padding of ducks ... in the water
  •      A raft of ducks ... in the water
  •      A team of ducks ... in the water
     On the ground
  •      A balding of ducks ... on the ground
  •      A brace of ducks ...  on the ground
  •      A safe of ducks ... on the ground
     In flight
  • ​     A flock of ducks ... in flight
Dunlins
  •       A fling of dunlins
Eagles
  •       An aerie of eagles
  •       A brood of eagles
  •       A congregation of eagles
  •       A convocation of eagles
  •       An exaltation of eagles
  • ​      A jubilee of eagles
Emus
  •       A mob of emus
Falcons
  •       A battalion of falcons     
  •       A cast of falcons
  •       A tower of falcons
Finches
  •      A charm of finches
  •      A trembling of finches
  •      A trimming of finches
Flamingoes
  •       A colony of flamingoes
  •       A flamboyance of flamingoes
  • ​      A flurry of flamingoes
  •       A regiment of flamingoes
  •       A stand of flamingoes
Geese
  •       A corps of geese
  •       A flock of geese
  •       A gaggle of geese
  •       A nide of geese
  •       A team of geese
  •       A trip of geese
  •       A wedge of geese (flying in V formation)
     In flight
  •       A skein of geese
  •       A skein of goslings
  •       A wedge of geese
      In the water
  • ​      A plump of geese
Goldfinches
  •       A charm of goldfinches
  •       A chattering of goldfinches
  •       A drove of goldfinches
  •       A glister of goldfinches
  •       A vein of goldfinches
Grouse
  •       A brace of grouse (=2)
  •       A brood of grouse
  •       A covey of grouse
  •       A drumming of grouse
  •       A pack of grouse
Guillemots
  •       A bazaar of guillemots
Gulls
  •       A colony of gulls      
  •       A leash of gulls
  •       A pack of gulls​     
  •       A screech of gulls
Hawks
  •       An aerie of hawks
  •       A cast of hawks
  •       A knot of hawks
  •       A leash of hawks
  •       A mews of hawks
  •       A moulting of hawks
  •       A screw of hawks
  •       A schizophrenia of hawks
  •       A stream of hawks       
  •       A kettle of hawks ...  (in flight)
  •       A boil of hawks ... (spiralling)
Herons
  •       A flight of herons
  •       A scattering of herons
  • ​      A sedge of herons
  • ​      A siege of herons
Hummingbirds
  •       A charm of hummingbirds
  •       A chattering of hummingbirds
  •       A choir of hummingbirds
  •       A drove of hummingbirds
  • ​      A glittering of hummingbirds
  •       A hover of hummingbirds
  •       A shimmer of hummingbirds
  • ​      A troubling of hummingbirds
Jackdaws
  •       A darkening of jackdaws
Jays
  •       A band of jays
  •       A party of jays
  •       A scold of jays
Kea
  •      A circus of kea
Kestrels
  •       A hover of kestrels
Kingfishers
  •       A clique of kingfishers
  •       A concentration of kingfishers
  •       A crown of kingfishers
Ibis
  •       A colony of ibis
Jays
  •       A band of jays
  •       A party of jays
  •       A scold of jays
Lapwings
  •       A desert of lapwing
Larks
  •       An ascension of larks
  •       A bevy of larks
  •       An exaltation of larks
  •       A flight of larks 
  • ​      A happiness of larks
Lyrebirds
  •       A musket of lyrebirds
Magpies
  •       A charm of magpies
  •       A congregation of magpies
  •       A flock of magpies
  •       A gulp of magpies
  •       A murder of magpies
  •       A tiding of magpies
  • ​      A tittering of magpies
  •       A tribe of magpies
Marabou Storks
  •       A funeral of marabou storks
Merlin
  •       A cast of merlin
  • ​      A leash of merlin
Mockingbirds
  •       An echo of mockingbirds
  •       An exactness of mockingbirds
  • ​      An impression of mockingbirds
  • ​      A plagiary of mockingbirds
  •       A precision of mockingbirds
Moorhens
  •       A plump of moorhens
Nightingales
  •       A flock of nightingales      
  •       A warren of nightingales       
  •       A match of nightingales
  •       A pray of nightingales      
  •       A watch of nightingales
Ostriches
  •        A flock of ostriches
  •        A herd of ostriches
  •        A pride of ostriches
  •        A troop of ostriches
  •        A wobble of ostriches
Owls 
  •        A company of owls       
  •        A parliament of owls
  •        A sagacity of owls
  •        A stare of owls
  •        A wisdom of owls
Oxbirds
  •       A flight of oxbirds
Partridges
  •        A bevy of partridges
  •        A bew of partridges
  •        A brace of partridges 
  • ​       A clutch of partridges
  •        A cover of partridges     
  • ​       A covey of partridges
  •        A warren of partridges
Parrots
  •        A company of parrots
  •        A flock of parrots
  •        A pandemonium of parrots
  •        A prattle of parrots
  •        A psittacosis of parrots
Peacocks / Peahens
  •        A bevy of peacocks  (family)
  •        A muster of peacocks
  •        An ostentation of peacocks
  •        A party of peacocks
  •        A pride of peacocks
  •        A pulchritude of peacocks
  •        A harem of peahens      
Pelicans
  •       A pod of pelicans       
  • ​      A scoop of pelicans
Penguins
  •        A colony of penguins
  •        A creche of penguins
  • ​       A formality of penguins
  •        A huddle of penguins       
  •        A kit of penguins 
  • ​       A parade of penguins 
  • ​       A parcel of penguins 
  •        A raft of penguins
  •        A rookery of penguins 
  • ​       A waddle of penguins
Peregrins
  •        A cage of peregrins
Pheasants
  •        A bevy of pheasants
  •        A bouquet of pheasants
  •        A brace of pheasants
  •        A creche of pheasants
  •        A head of pheasants
  •        A nide of pheasants
  •        A nye of pheasants
  •        A warren of pheasants
Pigeons
  •        A flight of pigeons
  •        A flock of pigeons
  •        A kit of pigeons
  • ​       A loft of pigeons
  •        A passel of pigeons
Plovers
  •        A band of plovers       
  •        A congregation of plovers
  •        A flight of plovers
  •        A stand of plovers
  •        A wing of plovers (in flight)
Quails
  •        A bevy of quails
  • ​       A covey of quails
  • ​       A flush of quails
  • ​       A knob of quails
Quells
  •       A flock of quells
Ravens
  •       An aerie of ravens
  • ​      A congress of ravens
  • ​      A conspiracy of ravens
  • ​      A crime of ravens
  •       A murder of ravens
  •       A parliament of ravens
  •       A storytelling of ravens
  • ​      A tower of ravens 
  •       An unkindness of ravens      
Rooks
  •         A building of rooks
  •         A clamour of rooks
  •         A congregation of rooks
  •         A parliament of rooks
  • ​        A storytelling of rooks
Sandpipers
  •         A fling of sandpipers
Seagulls
  •         A colony of seagulls 
  •         A flock of seagulls 
  •         A flotilla of seagulls     
  • ​        A squabble of seagulls
Skylarks
  •         An exaltation of skylarks
Snipe
  •         A volley of snipe
  •         A wisp of snipe
Sparrows
  •         A flight of sparrows        
  •         A host of sparrows
  •         A mienie of sparrows
  •         A quarrel of sparrows
  • ​        A tribe of sparrows
  • ​        An ubiquity of sparrows
Starlings
  •         A chattering of starlings
  •         A cloud of starlings
  •         A clutter of starlings
  •         A congregation of starlings
  •         A flock of starlings
  •         A murmuration of starlings
  •         A scintillation of starlings
Storks
  •         A flight of storks
  • ​        A mustering of storks
  • ​        A phalanx of storks
Sunbirds
  •         A flight of sunbirds
Swallows
  •         A flight of swallows
  •         A kettle of swallows         
  •         A gulp of swallows
Swans
  •         A ballet of swans
  •         A bank of swans
  •         A bevy of swans
  •         A drift of swans
  •         A eyrar of swans
  •         A flight of swans  ...  in flight
  •         A flock of swans
  •         A game of swans
  •         A herd of swans
  •         A lamentation of swans
  •         A sownder of swans
  •         A squadron of swans
  •         A team of swans
  •         A wedge of swans
  •         A whiteness of swans
Swallows
  •         A flight of swallows
  • ​        A gulp of swallows      
Swifts
  •        A flock of swifts
  •        A scream of swifts
Teals
  •        A bunch of teals
  •        A coil of teals
  •        A knob of teals       
  •        A spring of teals
Thrushes
  •        A mutation of thrushes
Tits
  •        A murmuration of tits
Toucans
  • A durante of toucans
Turkeys
  •       A cream of turkeys
  •       A dole of turkeys
  •       A dule of turkeys
  •       A flock of turkeys
  •       A gang of turkeys
  •       A posse of turkeys
  •       A raffle of turkeys
  •       A raft of turkeys
  •        A rafter of turkeys
Turtle Doves
  •        A dole of turtle doves
  •        A dule of turtle doves
  •        A pitying of turtle doves
  • ​       A truelove of turtle doves
Vultures
  •        A colony of vultures
  •        A committee of vultures
  •        A kettle of vultures (when circling)
  •        A wake of vultures (when feeding
  •         together at a carcass)
  •        A venue of vultures
Waterfowl
  •        A bunch of waterfowl
  •        A knob of waterfowl
  •        A raft of waterfowl
  •        A plump of waterfowl
Widgeons
  •        A bunch of widgeons
  • ​       A company of widgeons
  •        A coil of widgeons
  •        A flight of widgeons
  •        A knob of widgeons
  •        A trip of widgeons
Wildfowl
  •        A bunch of wildfowl
  •        A knob of wildfowl 
  • ​       A lute of wildfowl
  •        A plump of wildfowl     
  • ​       A sord of wildfowl
  •        A trip of wildfowl
Woodcocks
  •        A covey of woodcocks       
  •        A fall of woodcocks
  •        A flight of woodcocks
  •        A plump of woodcocks
Woodpeckers
  •        A descent of woodpeckers
  •        A gatling of woodpeckers
  • ​       A whirlagust of woodpeckers
Wrens 
  •        A cabinet of wrens
  • ​       A chime of wrens
  •        A flock of wrens
IDIOMS, METAPHORS AND EXPRESSIONS
General
  • A bird
  • A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
  • A bird of ill omen
  • A box of birds
  • A pigeon hole
  • A rare bird
  • A round-robin
  • A wet bird never flies at night
  • A little bird told me
  • An early bird catches the worm
  • An odd bird
  • An old bird
  • Bird's eye view
  • Birds in their little nest agree
  • Birds of a feather (flock together)
  • Birds of a feather flock together
  • Birds of the air 
  • Bird of passage
  • Blue bird of happiness
  • Early bird
  • Eat like a bird
  • Fine feathers make a fine bird
  • Flying start
  • Free as a bird
  • Get the bird
  • Give somebody the bird
  • Happy as a box of birds
  • In the first flight
  • It's a bird!
  • Jail-bird
  • Like a bird
  • It's a ill bird that fouls in its own nest
  • Kill two birds with one stone
  • Nest egg
  • Strictly for the birds
  • Sweet bird of youth
  • The birds and the bees
  • The bird has flown
  • The eagle has landed
  • To charm the birds out of a tree
  • To fly high
  • To fly the coop
  • To kill two birds with one stone
  • To knock someone off one's perch
  • To rule the roost
  • To come home to roost
  • To stick in one's gizzard
  • To take flight
  • Watch the birdie
  • 'Who killed Cock Robin'
Albatrosses
  • To have an albatross around one's neck
​Chickens
  • Bet on a lame rooster
  • Chicken out of (something)
  • Chicken!
  • Chicken-and-egg situation
  • Chicken in every pot
  • Chicken feed
  • Chicken hearted
  • Chicken skin
  • Cock and bull story
  • Cocks may crow but it's the hen that lays the egg
  • Don't count your chickens
  • Feeling like a rooster in a hen house
  • Fits like a stocking on a chicken's lip
  • Hen party
  • Is that a chicken joke?
  • Like a chicken with its head cut off
  • Like a hen with one chicken
  • Like a hen-pecked husband
  • No spring chicken
  • Mad as a wet hen
  • Pecking order
  • The chickens come home to roost
  • The pecking order
  • To chicken out of (something)
  • To count one's chickens before they hatch
  • To rule the roost
  • What came first, the chicken or the egg?
Cockerels
  • A cock and bull story
  • A cock-eyed scheme
  • A cock sparrow
  • Cock-a-hoop
  • Cock-of-the-walk
  • Cock sparrow
  • That cock won't fight
  • This beats cock-fighting
  • To be all cock-a-hoop
  • To cock a snook at
  • To cock up
  • To go off at half cock
  • To live like fighting cocks
  • To take a cockshot at
Crows
  • A scarecrow
  • As the crow flies
  • Crow's feet
  • Stone the crows
  • To crow over
  • To eat crow
  • To have a crow with (someone)
  • To pluck a crow   
Cuckoo
  • A cuckoo in the nest 
  • Cloud cuckoo land
  • The first cuckoo
Dove
  • Get 'lovey-dovey'
  • Lovey-dovey
  • The dove of peace
  • To be as gentle as a dove
  • To flutter the dovecotes
  • The wings of a dove                       
Ducks
  • A box of fluffy ducks
  • A dead duck 
  • A duck's egg
  • A duck in a thunderstorm
  • A lame duck
  • A sitting duck
  • An ugly duckling
  • Biggest duck in the puddle
  • Break one's duck
  • Duck in a thunderstorm
  • Duck out 
  • Duck soup
  • Ducky
  • If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and looks like a duck, it must be a duck
  • It's the duck's gut
  • Lame duck
  • Like a duck to water
  • Like a dying duck
  • Like a pair of ducks
  • Like a sitting duck
  • Like water off a duck's back
  • To break one's duck
  • To play ducks and drakes with
Eagles
  • Eagle-eyed
  • Legal eagle
  • The eagle has landed
Eggs
  • A good egg
  • A bad egg
  • As sure as eggs is eggs
  • Chicken-and-egg
  • Egg head
  • Egg me on
  • Goose egg
  • He that would have eggs, must endure the cackling of hens
  • Nest egg
  • Suck eggs
  • Skunk egg
  • To have egg on one's face
  • To kill the goose that laid the golden egg
  • To put all one's eggs in one basket
  • To teach one's grandmother to suck eggs
  • You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs
  • Walk on eggshells
Feathers and Wings
  • A feather in one's hat/cap
  • Birds of a feather (flock together)
  • Fine feathers make fine birds
  • In a fine feather
  • Light as a feather
  • To be spitting feathers
  • To clip someone's wings
  • To cut a feather
  • To feather one's nest
  • To make someone's hackles rise
  • To make the feathers fly
  • To show the white feather
  • To smooth ruffled feathers
  • To ruffle someone's feathers
  • To take someone under one's wings
  • You could knock me down with a feather
Geese
  • A wild goose chase
  • All one's geese are swans
  • As often as a goose goes barefoot
  • Doesn't have the sense God gave geese
  • Goose bumps
  • Goose flesh
  • Goose-step
  • Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs
  • Say boo to a goose
  • Slick as goose grease
  • To cook one's goose
  • What's good for the goose, is good for the gander
  • What is sauce for the goose, is sauce for the gander
  • Wild goose chase
Hawks
  • Hawk-eyed
  • Hawks and doves
  • To know a hawk from a hacksaw
  • To watch like a hawk
Hens
  • Hen party
  • Hen-pecked husband
  • Like a hen with one chicken
Jays
  • Jay-walker
Larks
  • Happy as a lark
  • To be up with the lark 
  • To have a lark
  • To lark about
Magpies
  • To chatter like a magpie
Mockingbirds
  • 1.    To kill a mockingbird
Nests
  • A cuckoo in the nest
  • A nest egg
  • To feather one's nest
  • To foul one's (own) nest
  • To stir up a hornets' nest
Ostriches
  • Like an ostrich with its head in the sand
  • Ostrich-like
  • Ostrich belief
  • Ostrich policy
Owls
  • A night owl
  • A solemn owl
  • A wise old owl
  • I wasn't brought up in the woods to be scared by owls
  • Owly!
Parrots
  • A dead parrot
  • Parrot-fashion
  • Parrots and monkeys
  • To have a mouth like the bottom of a parrot's cage
Phoenix ... a fictitious bird
  • Like a phoenix from the ashes
Pigeons
  • A clay pigeon
  • Stool pigeon
  • Not my pigeon
  • Pigeon-toed
  • Pluck a pigeon
  • Put the cat among the pigeons
  • To pigeon hole
Robins
  • A round robin
  • Who killed Cock Robin
Swallows
  • One swallow does not make a summer
Swans
  • All someone's swans are geese
  • Swan-song
Turkeys
  • Cold turkey
  • Stop cold turkey
  • To talk turkey
Vultures
  • To be like a vulture
Picture
BEAUTIFUL SUNBIRD
Picture
AFRICAN CROWNED CRANE
Picture
ROBIN
Picture
YELLOW BIRD
Picture
WEAVER BIRD
Picture
KAKAPO PARROTS from NEW ZEALAND
Picture
SEAGULLS
Picture
NIGHTINGALE
Picture
ZEBRA DOVE
Picture
DOVE
Picture
CASSOWARY
Picture
WIDGEON
Picture
BALD EAGLE
Picture
COCKATOO
Picture
COCKATIEL
Picture
HUMMINGBIRD
Picture
SWAN
Picture
FLAMINGOES

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Acknowledgement:

​All the wonderful photographs on this site were collected via www.google.co.uk under the relevant animal category.  

Please click on each photograph to be linked to the original source. However, over time, many of the sites have taken down their photographs, so there will be no link.
Polly Healy
Copyright: 2013 - Concept 

ANIMALS AND ENGLISH
pollyhealy@live.co.uk   

________________________________________
Other sites:
www.englishlanguagetips.com 

www.smoothguide-mahjong.com
www.smoothguide-photography.com
www.smoothguide-kenyacoast.com

www.healyshandyhouseholdhints.com
​www.smoothguide-sunbury.com