Essential Collective Nouns (Animals) for Kerala PSC | English Grammar

In English grammar, a Collective Noun is a word used to represent a group of people, animals, or things as a single unit.

Instead of saying 'a group of owls,' we can use a specific word to describe that group; in this case, a "Parliament."

As we know in the Kerala PSC English grammar section, Collective Nouns of animals are a recurring favorite. They frequently tests your vocabulary through "odd man out" questions, "fill in the blanks," or direct identification of animal groups.

Whether you are preparing for the LDC, VEO, or Secretariat Assistant exams, it is a simple and important section we don't want to miss.

In this post, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of animal groups specifically curated for PSC aspirants. Let’s dive into the animal kingdom.

---

Collective Nouns for Animals

Animals

• A group of Apes – Shrewdness.
• A group of Bats – Cloud / Colony / Cauldron.
• A group of Buffaloes – Herd / Troop / Obstinacy.
• A group of Camels – Caravan / Flock / Train.
• A group of Cattle – Herd / Drove.   (Degree Prelims Stage III, 2026)
• A group of Cats – Clowder.
• A group of Kittens – Kindle / Litter.
• A group of Cows – Herd / Drove / Kine.
• A group of Deer – Herd / Bevy.
• A group of Donkeys – Pace.
• A group of Ducks – Paddling (on water) /  Team & Skein (in flight) /  Sling (on land).
• A group of Elephants – Parade / Herd.
• A group of Giraffes – Tower.
• A group of Hyenas – Cackle.
• A group of Kangaroos – Mob / Troop.
• A group of Leopards – Leap.
• A group of Lions – Pride.
• A group of Monkeys – Troop / Mission / Barrel.
•  A group of Penguins – Waddle (on land) / Raft (in the water) / Rookery (a large colony/nesting group).
• A group of Pigs – Drift / Drove / Sounder (wild pigs).
• A group of Piglets – Litter.
• A group of Puppies – Litter.
• A group of Rabbit – Colony / Warren.
• A group of Raccoons – Gaze.
• A group of Rhinos – Crash.
• A group of Sheep – Flock /  Drove / Fold.
• A group of Snakes – Den /  Pit / Nest / Bed.
• A group of Tigers – Ambush / Streak.
• A group of Wolves – Pack.
• A group of Zebras – Dazzle / Zeal.

Aquatic Animals

• A group of Crocodiles – Bask.
• A group of Dolphins – Pod / School / Team.
• A group of Frogs – Army.
• A group of Fish – School / Shoal.
• A group of Jellyfish – Smack.
• A group of Sharks – Shiver.
• A group of Toads – Knot.
• A group of Turtles – Bale.
• A group of Whales – Pod.

Birds

• A group of Birds – Flock.
• A group of Chickens – Brood / Peep.
• A group of Crows – Murder.
• A group of Eagles – Convocation.
• A group of Flamingos – Flamboyance.
• A group of Geese – Gaggle.
• A group of Hen – Brood.
• A group of Owls – Parliament.
• A group of Parrots – Pandemonium.
• A group of Peacocks – Muster / Ostentation.
• A group of Ravens – Unkindness / Conspiracy.
• A group of Starlings – Murmuration.
• A group of Turkeys – Rafter.
• A group of Vultures – Committee.

Insects & Reptiles

• A group of Ants – Army / Colony /State.
• A group of Bees – Swarm / Hive / Grist.
• A group of Butterflies – Kaleidoscope / Flutter.
• A group of Flies – Business.
• A group of Gnats – Cloud / Horde.

Mastering collective nouns is one of the easiest ways to secure sure marks in the Kerala PSC English grammar section. The key to remembering these is consistent revision. 

Bookmark this page and try to visualize the animal group when you say the name.

Thanks for reading!!