What is a group of crows called?
Quick answer
A group of crows is commonly called a murder of crows. The phrase dates back to the 15th century, when English writers invented colorful group names for animals. Crows were linked with death and bad omens, partly because they gathered on battlefields and gallows. In everyday speech, scientists simply say a flock.
Where the names come from
Many unusual collective nouns, called terms of venery, appeared in English hunting books of the 1400s, such as the Book of St Albans (1486). Writers seemed to enjoy inventing poetic or funny names, and many were never widely used. Some survived and are still popular as trivia.
Other bird groups
| Birds | Group name |
|---|---|
| Crows | A murder |
| Ravens | An unkindness or conspiracy |
| Owls | A parliament |
| Larks | An exaltation |
| Starlings | A murmuration |
| Flamingos | A flamboyance |
| Geese (on the ground) | A gaggle |
| Peacocks | An ostentation |
Mammal groups
| Animals | Group name |
|---|---|
| Lions | A pride |
| Rhinoceroses | A crash |
| Hippos | A bloat |
| Zebras | A dazzle |
| Giraffes | A tower |
| Ferrets | A business |
For more words about language, see what an acronym is.
Crows are brilliant
Crows are among the most intelligent animals:
- Face recognition: In a University of Washington study, crows remembered researchers who wore a “dangerous” mask for years, and scolded them, even teaching other crows to do the same.
- Tool use: New Caledonian crows bend twigs into hooks to pull grubs from holes.
- Puzzle solving: In experiments, crows have completed multi-step puzzles.
- Traffic tricks: Some city crows drop nuts on roads for cars to crack.
Relative to body size, crows have brains comparable to those of great apes.
Crow or raven?
| Crow | Raven | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | About 45 cm long | About 60 cm long, hawk-sized |
| Tail in flight | Fan-shaped | Wedge-shaped |
| Call | “Caw” | Deep croak |
Animals that use tools also include sea otters; see which marine mammal uses rocks to open shellfish.
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