Wild Animals

Whether they crawl, fly, swim, slither, walk, run or pounce, wild animals rely on their instincts. Read about all kinds of wild animals, mammals, birds, fish, insects, reptiles and amphibians.

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If you have ever wondered, "What is a group of quail called," the answer is: a covey.

By Nico Avelle

If you have ever wondered, "What is a group of lizards called," the answer is simple and a little playful. A group of lizards is called a lounge. Yes, really—a lounge of lizards.

By Nico Avelle

If you have ever wondered, "What is a group of polar bears called," you are not alone. The short answer: A group of polar bears is called a sleuth. Yes, sleuth—like a detective on the ice.

By Nico Avelle

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People often wonder, "What is a group of hawks called," when they see many birds circling high in the sky. Hawks are generally solitary birds, so the answer depends on context rather than a single catchall word.

By Nico Avelle

Koalas are iconic Australian animals, but people often pause when asked, "What is a group of koalas called?" The short answer is that there is no widely accepted official collective noun for koalas.

By Nico Avelle

Buzzards soar on rising air currents, often circling high above fields and forests. But what is a group of buzzards called? As with many birds of prey, there’s more than one term, each tied to the birds’ behavior and setting.

By Nico Avelle

Leopards are known for their stealth, power and solitary lifestyle. So what is a group of leopards called? These elusive big cats aren’t often spotted in numbers.

By Nico Avelle

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The English language is full of imaginative ways to describe groups of animals. You’ve probably heard of a murder of crows or a parliament of owls. But what group of animals is called a charm?

By Nico Avelle

Crabs scuttle along the ocean floor, dig in the sand and wave their claws during territorial standoffs. But what is a group of crabs called? These quirky, armored creatures actually have more than one collective noun.

By Nico Avelle

They laugh, they hunt, they challenge lions—and they do it all in groups. But what is a group of hyenas called? The answer depends on whether you're talking to a wildlife expert or swapping animal facts with friends.

By Nico Avelle

If you’ve ever watched sparrows flutter around your yard or city park, you know they rarely sit still. But what is a group of sparrows called? The answer may not be as famous as a murder of crows or a gaggle of geese, but it’s every bit as descriptive.

By Nico Avelle

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Capybaras are the world’s largest rodents, known for their laid-back attitude and love of water. But what is a group of capybaras called? Like many social animals, they have a fitting collective noun that reflects how they live and interact in the wild.

By Nico Avelle

You’ve probably seen hummingbirds darting around your yard or at a feeder, shimmering like flying jewels.

By Nico Avelle

You may have heard a group of lions is called a pride, and a group of crows is called a murder. But what is a group of parrots called? The answer is almost as noisy as the birds themselves.

By Nico Avelle

If you've ever seen a sloth move, you know they take their time. So it might be surprising to learn there's a collective noun for them at all.

By Nico Avelle

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Apes are among the most intelligent animals on Earth, closely related to humans and deeply social in the wild.

By Nico Avelle

Lemurs are social, wide-eyed primates found only on Madagascar and the nearby Comoro Islands. But what is a group of lemurs called?

By Nico Avelle

Ever wondered what to call a bunch of seagulls? You're not alone.

By Nico Avelle

If you've ever seen a pack of squid swirling through the sea, you might wonder, what is a group of squid called?

By Nico Avelle

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If you are asking about the country with the most wild tigers, the answer is clear, but the story behind it spans conservation, habitat loss, and decades of recovery work.

By Nico Avelle

Porcupines are solitary animals with a sharp sense of style. If you’ve ever seen more than one hanging around a tree or crossing a trail, you may have wondered, what is a group of porcupines called?

By Nico Avelle

If you've seen a dozen elk grazing across a field or trotting past a fence line, you might have wondered, what is a group of elk called?

By Nico Avelle

If you have ever asked, "What is a group of magpies called," you are stepping into a long tradition of collective nouns used for birds.

By Nico Avelle

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Hedgehogs usually live alone, so seeing more than one together feels special. When it happens, English gives that group a very specific word.

By Nico Avelle

If you have ever seen several gators piled together along a riverbank, you may have wondered, "What is a group of alligators called?"

By Nico Avelle