A Group of Crows Is Called a Murder

The ominous-sounding collective noun for a group of crows has roots stretching back to the 15th century. This term likely arose from a combination of folklore and the bird's behavior. Historically, crows and ravens were associated with death, as they were often seen scavenging on battlefields and gallows, leading to a belief that they were omens of ill fortune. One folk tale even suggests that crows gather to pass judgment on the capital fate of one of their own. The harsh and raucous cry of a large group of these birds has also been compared to the sound of a chaotic mob, further cementing this dark association.

This practice of giving evocative names to animal groups, known as terms of venery, was particularly popular in late medieval England. Many of these poetic and sometimes fanciful terms were created to distinguish the language of the gentry. This tradition has given us other memorable phrases, such as a "parliament of owls," which plays on the ancient association of owls with wisdom, an idea present since the time of the Ancient Greeks. Similarly, we have an "unkindness of ravens" and a "murmuration of starlings," each name reflecting a perceived characteristic or behavior of the animal, adding a layer of richness to the English language.