Collective Noun for Crows: Meaning and Usage Explained with Examples

Crows are among the most intelligent birds in the world. They are known for their problem-solving skills, strong memory, and social behaviour. Like many animals and birds, crows have a special collective noun used to describe them when they gather in groups. The most common collective noun for crows is a murder of crows. This unusual and memorable term has fascinated people for centuries and is often associated with folklore, myths, and literature. In this guide, you will learn what the collective noun for crows is, why it is called a murder, how to use it in sentences, and other interesting collective nouns related to birds.

Table of Contents

• What is the Collective Noun for Crows?
• List of Collective Nouns for Crows
• Collective Nouns for Crows: Explained with Examples
• Why is a Group of Crows Called a Murder?
• Examples of Collective Noun for Crows in Sentences
• Comparison: Collective Nouns for Similar Birds

What is the Collective Noun for Crows?

Collective nouns are special words used to describe groups of animals, people, or things. The common collective noun for crows is a murder. When several crows gather together, they can be referred to as a murder of crows. This is the most widely accepted and commonly used collective term in English.

Example:

A murder of crows sat on the branches of the old tree.

We watched a murder of crows flying across the evening sky.

Although ‘murder’ is the most popular term, people may also simply say ‘a flock of crows’ in everyday conversation.

List of Collective Nouns for Crows

While murder is the most common and well-known collective noun for crows, there are several other accepted terms. Here is a list of collective nouns for crows:

• Murder

• Flock

• Horde

• Hover

• Mob

• Muster

• Parcel

• Parliament

• Congress

• Brood

• Caldron

• Clan

• Company
  
  

Collective Nouns for Crows: Explained with Examples

Understanding each collective noun becomes much easier when you know what situation it is used in and see it in an example sentence. Let learn the common collective nouns fro crows in detail.

Flock of Crows

The most commonly used collective noun for animals in general can be herd, and similarly, the most commonly used collective noun for birds can be flock. The collective noun ‘flock’ is used for a number of crows that are seen flying together. Importantly, 'flock' is not exclusive to crows; it is used for many other types of birds as well. 

Structure: Flock + preposition + crows.

Examples:

• A flock of crows is seen around the pot.

• A flock of crows was seen flying under the red sky.

Horde of Crows

When the word 'horde' is used by itself, it refers to a big group. When you see a large number of crows but do not observe much activity among them, perhaps they are simply roosting or sitting still; the term 'horde' is a fitting choice.

Structure: Horde + preposition + crows.

Examples:

• A garden is a beautiful place, but the horde of crows adds more beauty to the site.

• I have painted a horde of crows on the canvas.

Muster of Crows

The collective noun muster can also be used for a group of crows. Historically, the word ‘muster’ means to assemble or gather making it a fitting term for crows that seem to have gathered with purpose.

Structure: Muster + preposition + crows.

Examples:

• A muster of crows was seen heading towards the dead dog.

• A muster of crows looks absolutely stunning while sitting on the rooftop.

Other Collective Nouns for Crows

 

Why is a Group of Crows Called a Murder?

This is probably the most interesting question about collective nouns for crows: why ‘murder’? The origin goes back more than 500 years. In 1486, a text known as The Book of Saint Albans was published from St Alban's Abbey in England. During this period, writers created unique collective nouns such as the following:

• A pride of lions

• A parliament of owls

• A school of fish

• A murder of crows

Crows have long been associated with dark omens, death, and bad luck in European folklore. Their black feathers, their habit of feeding on carrion (dead animals), their loud and harsh calls, and their tendency to gather in large, ominous-looking groups all contributed to this gloomy reputation. It is believed that this cultural association with death gave rise to the dramatic term 'murder' for a group of them.

So, the next time someone asks why the collective noun for crows is a murder, you can tell them it is a mix of mediaeval tradition, folklore, and the crow's long-standing reputation as a bird of ill omen.

The general rule in English grammar for using 'murder' is:

• Use a singular verb when the group is acting as one unit. For example, 'The murder is moving towards the treeline'.

• Use a plural verb when the members of the group are acting individually. For example, 'The murder is flying off in different directions.'

 

Examples of Collective Noun for Crows in Sentences

Seeing the collective noun for crows used in a sentence makes it much easier to understand and remember. Here are clear examples covering the most important terms:

Murder of Crows:

• A murder of crows settled on the old oak tree at sunset.

• The farmer was startled when a murder of crows descended on his field.

• Scientists observed that a murder of crows displayed remarkable problem-solving abilities.

Flock of Crows:

• A flock of crows is seen around the pot.

• A flock of crows was seen flying under the red sky.

Horde of Crows:

• A garden is a beautiful place, but the horde of crows adds more beauty to the site.

• I have painted a horde of crows on the canvas.

Muster of Crows:

• A muster of crows was seen heading towards the dead dog.

• A muster of crows looks absolutely stunning while sitting on the rooftop.

Other Terms in Sentences:

• A hover of crows circled above the tall building, catching everyone's attention.

• The children gasped as a mob of crows flew past the schoolyard window.

• Deep in the forest, a parliament of crows gathered on the branches of a dead tree.
  
  

Comparison: Collective Nouns for Similar Birds

Here is a comparison of collective nouns for crows and other similar birds.