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.
Perhaps my favorite of the wildlife group names — a buffoonery of orangutans. The term buffoonery comes from old perceptions of orangutans as comical or clownish due to their expressive faces, gangly limbs, and slow, deliberate movements that can appear exaggerated or humorous to human observers. In reality, orangutans are deeply intelligent, solitary primates with complex behaviors and problem-solving skills. Photographed in Indonesian Borneo. To get a buffoonery t-shirt, baby bodysuit or coffee mug, visit specieslimited.com. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 190mm) ISO 800, f/4.5 at 1/80th of a second.
A group of penguins on land is called a waddle, no doubt inspired by their distinctive, side-to-side walking style — a shuffle both awkward and endearing. This waddle of gentoo penguins was photographed on Saunders Island in the Falkland Islands. To buy a waddle t-shirt, Onesie or coffee mug, visit specieslimited.com. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 350mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/3200th of a second.
The name “Parade” of echidnas comes from the unusual sight of multiple echidnas waddling along in a slow, purposeful line, especially during the breeding season when males may follow a single female in what’s called an “echidna train.” There was no evident parade when I photographed this guy. Just a single echidna along the side of the road in Tasmania. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/125th of a second.
Well… at least, the makings of a clowder. Bobcats are almost always solitary in the wild, so the collective name is borrowed from domestic cat terminology, where clowder describes a loose, shifting gathering of felines. Applying it to bobcats is more poetic than scientific, but that’s the charm. It brings these elusive wildcats together in name, if not in nature. The photo was captured by my backyard camera trap back in April of 2024. Nikon D810 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 20mm) ISO 500, f/14 at 1/200th of a second, Cognisys camera box, trail monitor and flash units.
We use cookies to enhance your experience while using our website. If you are using our Services via a browser you can restrict, block or remove cookies through your web browser settings. We also use content and scripts from third parties that may use tracking technologies. You can selectively provide your consent below to allow such third party embeds. For complete information about the cookies we use, data we collect and how we process them, please check our Privacy Policy
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.
