PARTY DECEIT creates PANDEMONIUM in PARLIAMENT
- Kirti Karmarkar Anand
- Nov 20
- 3 min read
That’s not a report on what’s happening at the government level!
These are in fact collective nouns used to describe different avian species
Our very colourful national bird, the Peacock when in a group makes a Party; the term "Deceit" is used for a group of Lapwings- its origins are from the bird's behaviour of feigning injury to lure predators away from its nest. It’s easy to relate to a Pandemonium of Parrots while the wise old and watchful Owls make a Parliament.
A group of birds is mostly called a flock or a flight, however, many other specific and very interesting collective nouns exist for specific species.
A Murder of Crows, a Deceit or a Desert of Lapwings, a Colony of Penguins, a Conspiracy of Ravens, a Dropping of Pigeons, a Swoop of Swallows, a Shimmering of Drongos, a Party of Hornbills.
Here is a twist - if on the ground, a group of Geese are called a Gaggle but when in flight they are a Wedge; perhaps arising from the V formation they fly in?
A Herd of Cranes, a Congregation of Egrets, a Crown or Realm of Kingfishers and a Cloud of Bats, the list goes on. The adage ‘birds of a feather flock together’ is apt for the Babblers who are rarely spotted alone and hence called Seven Sisters/ Brothers.
The study of birds which are warm-blooded theropod dinosaurs is called Ornithology.
There are over 11,000 living species of birds worldwide and their size ranges from the 5.5 cm (2.2 in) bee hummingbird to the 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in) common ostrich. Birds are characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweight skeleton.
FUN FACTS
The Ostrich is so large and strong that not only can a human ride on it, even its eggs have such a strong shell that it can withstand the weight of a human without cracking.
Cuckoos lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, a behaviour known as brood parasitism. The cuckoo doesn't build its own nest nor does it raise its young, instead the host bird incubates the cuckoo's egg and even feeds the cuckoo chicks!
Birds exhibit sexual dimorphism i.e. male birds are often more colourful than females. This difference is used to attract mates and also serves as a survival strategy where the less vibrant females can use camouflage to protect their nests and young from predators.
A male's flashy plumage can also signal a warning to potential predators, indicating he is a strong and fit individual, sometimes the male has an attractive plumage only during the mating season.
Birds see a much wider range of colour than humans; they even have colours in their plumage that are invisible to the human eye.
Birds are a hoot! A gaggle of geese honk in harmony, while a school of starlings performs an aerial ballet. Meanwhile, a murder of crows plots world domination, and a parliament of owls holds secret meetings under the moonlight.
Whether they're flying solo or in a flock, birds are truly one of nature's greatest wonders!
Nearly 90 species of these little colourful flying wonders have been observed and identified at Arbor Road Estate - a paradise for birders.
Bird lovers call or message +91 9867752612 to book your visit now
