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Ten Curious Collective Nouns

Jeevan Sivasubramaniam Posted by Jeevan Sivasubramaniam, Managing Director, Editorial, Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.



Yes, everyone knows about "a murder of crows," but what about these other beautiful collective nouns:

1. A charm of finches (also used for hummingbirds)

2. A stand of flamingos

3. A parliament of owls

4. A company of parrots

5. A watch of nightingales

6. A walk of snipes

7. An unkindness of ravens

8. A murmuration of starlings

9. A plump of waterfowls (also used for moorhens)

10. A pitying of turtledoves

Yes, I know. Number (7) is just too awesome.

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