Author: Marcus Ellery

A group of penguins is called a waddle on land and a raft in water. Why the embarrassment claim is an internet myth, what a creche is, and how emperor huddles work.

A group of owls is called a parliament, a term popularized by C.S. Lewis. Why owls almost never form groups, which species do roost together, and where the wisdom reputation came from.

A group of geese is called a gaggle on the ground and a skein in flight. Where gaggle came from, why geese fly in a V, and what ganders and goslings are called.

A group of ducks is called a raft on water, a paddling when swimming and a flock in flight. Why ducks have so many names, why gaggle belongs to geese, and what a brood of ducklings is.

A group of flamingos is called a flamboyance, along with stand, colony, regiment and pat. Where the name came from, and how colonies of over a million birds display in unison.

A group of crows is called a murder, or simply a flock. Where the name came from, why crows really gather around their dead, and how winter roosts reach tens of thousands of birds.

A group of ravens is called an unkindness or a conspiracy. Where both dark names came from, why murder belongs to crows, and how ravens actually group in pairs, families, and huge winter roosts.

A group of turkeys is called a rafter, or simply a flock. Where the odd word rafter comes from, what a gang and a brood mean, and how real turkey flocks form and grow through the year.

A 20 gram bird that sings teakettle-teakettle loud enough to carry hundreds of metres, year round. The song, the alarm rattle, and the duet most people miss.