Monday, November 20, 2006

A rafter of Turkeys?

Who the hell makes up the words that describe groups or different kinds of birds?

For instance, a group of turkeys is called a rafter. A group of crows is called a murder, and a group or ravens is called an unkindness.

Some others:
An exaltation of larks
A kettle of hawks
A party of jays
A company of parrots
A colony of penguins
A cover of coots
A dissimulation of birds
A pitying of turtledoves
A siege of herons
A charm of finches
A tidings of magpies
A deceit of lapwings
An ostentation of peacocks
A bouquet of pheasants
A congregation of plovers
A descent of woodpeckers
A mustering of storks
A murmuration of starlings
A parliament of owls

A "paddling of ducks"? No one except a would-be landed gentry person would speak like this.

Why do I bring this up? No clue...I'm just wondering what ever happened to Flock of Seaguls.

1 comment:

Skibby said...

a gaggle of geese...