Kettle of Hawks
Longtime birders know that some of the terms used to describe bird groups can be highly unusual. William Malarkey of Pottsville, Pennsylvania
submitted this list, which includes 15 authentic terms… and five he made up just for fun. Can you tell which are which? William helpfully included a
few easy ones to get you started, but you might be in for a surprise or two.

Once you’ve zeroed in on the terms you think are fakes, check your answers below. And if you don’t get ’em all, don’t fret… a couple of these
tripped us up, too!

1. Kettle of hawks
2. Peep of chickens
3. Fall of woodcocks
4. Gulp of swallows
5. Deceit of lapwings
6. Looming of vultures
7. Trembling of finches
8. Sord of mallards
9. Spring of teal
10. Siege of herons
11. Ridicule of mockingbirds
12. Walk of snipe
13. Piteousness of doves
14. Chain of bobolinks
15. Mew of catbirds
16. Mutation of thrushes
17. Bouquet of pheasants
18. Wake of buzzards
19. Squadron of pelicans
20. Smidgen of widgeons

Source: Birds & Blooms, November 2005, https://www.birdsandblooms.com

Puzzle answer: The made-up terms in this list are numbers 4, 6, 11, 15, and 20. All the rest are real. And yes, that really does include a “sord of
mallards” and a “chain of bobolinks”!

Received from William Malarkey.

    ▪▪ Link ▪▪