Author: Marcus Ellery

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.

The seagull long call signals territory and identity, and mates recognise each other by voice. Every call decoded, plus why gulls scream at 4am in summer.