A group of pelicans is called a scoop because of their most distinctive feature — the oversized throat pouch. Pelicans feed by dipping or plunging into the water and literally scooping up fish along with a gulp of water, which they then drain before swallowing their catch. The word perfectly mirrors both the action and the shape of their bill. Few birds are more defined by a single feeding motion than a pelican making a scoop. The photo features white pelicans in Florida. The illustration features brown pelicans — the two different species we get in the United States. To get your wildlife inspired T-shirts, visit my store at Species Limited. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/200th of a second.
A group of cranes is called a sedge because cranes are so closely associated with wetlands, and sedges are grass-like plants that dominate marshes and boggy habitats where cranes feed and nest. Two members of a sedge are pictured here, but there were thousands more sandhill cranes in Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in Socorro, New Mexico when I visited years ago during their yearly migration. To get your sedge t-shirt or onesie, visit my store at specieslimited.com. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 290mm) ISO 1600, f/5.6 at 1/200th of a second.
A group of owls is called a parliament because, for centuries, owls have symbolized wisdom and seriousness. The term dates back to medieval Europe and was popularized in 15th-century literature, in works like Chaucer’s Parliament of Fowls. With their upright posture, forward-facing eyes, and solemn expressions, owls resemble dignified officials gathered in debate. These two burrowing owls were in an open field with a few others at dusk on the west coast of Florida. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 330mm) ISO 800, f/4.5 at 1/250th of a second.
Leopards are almost always solitary unless it’s a mother with her offspring, or two adults come together to mate. I’ve seen lots of leopards over the years, but only once have I seen more than one at a time and that was a mother with her almost-full-size cub. But as with most species, they do have a fun name for a group of them. Leopards are incredibly powerful jumpers, capable of launching themselves into trees or onto prey with sudden force, so “leap” fits the bill. I photographed this solitary adult male this past June in Kenya. To get your Leap of Leopards merchandise, visit Species Limited. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 500mm PF lens, ISO 1400, f/5.6 at 1/1600th of a second.
A group of polar bears is sometimes called a celebration. They are famously solitary animals, so seeing more than one together — outside of a mother and cubs — is unusual. When they do gather, it’s often around a large food source like a whale carcass or when waiting for the ice to freeze so that they can go hunt, and the sight of several massive white bears on the sea ice can feel rare and almost momentous. The word celebration captures that sense of spectacle and rarity — a remarkable gathering in an otherwise vast, empty Arctic landscape. To get your Celebration of Polar Bear merchandise, visit Species Limited.Nikon D300 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 135mm) ISO 400, f/6.3 at 1/1600th of a second.
A group of zebras is called a dazzle because of the visual effect their black-and-white stripes create when they stand or move together. When clustered in a herd, the overlapping stripes can blur into a confusing pattern, making it difficult for predators to single out one individual, especially when the zebras are running. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 100, f/2.8 at 1/1000th of a second.
A group of peafowl is called a muster because the word historically means a gathering. The term dates back to Middle English and comes from the Latin monstrare, meaning “to show” or “to display.” And that’s where it fits peafowl beautifully. When peafowl gather, particularly during breeding season, it can look very much like a ceremonial assembly. Males fan out their tail feathers in full display, presenting themselves as a worthy mate. A muster captures both the act of gathering and the spectacle of showing off. This blue peacock was photographed in Bandhavegarh National Park in India. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/7.1 at 1/125th of a second.
A group of hippos is called a bloat because the word perfectly captures the visual impact of several enormous, barrel-bodied animals packed together in shallow water. When hippos gather in pods — often dozens at a time — their rounded backs and swollen-looking forms rise from the river like floating boulders, giving the impression of something oversized and “bloated.” To get your Bloat of Hippos merchandise, visit Species Limited. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 300mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/640th of a second.
A group of capybaras is called a meditation because, well… have you seen them? Capybaras are famously calm, often sitting together in serene clusters along riverbanks, eyes half-closed, looking like they’ve achieved a level of inner peace the rest of us are still chasing. Whether lounging in hot springs, sharing space with birds (like this guy in Brazil’s Pantanal), or simply existing without drama, a gathering of capybaras really does look like a quiet meditation session in the wild. For more group names in the wild, including my just-posted adult tees collection, see the Language of the Wild collection at SpeciesLimited.com. Nikon D300 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 330mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/200th of a second.
A group of toads is called a knot because of the way they cluster together, especially during breeding season, when multiple males gather around a single female in what looks like a tangled pile of bodies. From a distance, the mass can resemble a knotted bundle of warty backs and intertwined limbs. To get your Knot to Toads merchandise, head over to specieslimited.com. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/5 at 1/2500th of a second.
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