Collective nouns, such as a “pride” of lions or a “flock” of birds, are unexpected terms for groups of animals. These unique phrases reveal a long history of human observation and creativity applied to the natural world. They make us wonder about the specific animal associated with a formal term like “congress.” This unusual designation is an example of how names for animal assemblages can be both surprising and evocative of their social behavior.
The Animal Grouped as a Congress
The animal most commonly designated by the collective noun “congress” is the baboon, a large, Old World monkey species known for its complex social dynamics. Baboons live in large, structured groups called “troops,” but “congress” is sometimes informally applied to them. This term likely arose from the baboon’s loud, highly visible social gatherings, which can appear argumentative. They engage in frequent interactions to establish dominance hierarchies and resolve conflicts, resembling a noisy, deliberative assembly to an outside observer.
The term “congress” may also occasionally apply to a group of ravens, though “unkindness” or “conspiracy” are more common. The primary collective noun for baboons in scientific literature remains “troop,” reflecting their military-like social structure. However, “congress” persists in popular language because it captures the perceived political nature of their busy, hierarchical societies.
Origins of Animal Collective Nouns
The tradition of assigning specific collective nouns, or “terms of venery,” dates back to the late Middle Ages. Many terms were formally recorded in the 15th century in The Book of St Albans, a treatise on hunting, hawking, and heraldry. This text taught noble youth the jargon of the hunt, serving as a mark of social refinement.
The names were often products of poetic license, humor, or subjective interpretation of an animal’s behavior. For example, a group of lapwings was called a “deceit,” reflecting the bird’s habit of feigning injury to lure predators away from its nest. Since these terms were created by scribes and gentlemen, not naturalists, they are often fanciful and arbitrary.
Unique Names for Other Animal Groups
Many animal assemblies have acquired distinctive collective nouns that reflect observations about their behavior or appearance. A group of owls, for instance, is often called a “parliament,” inspired by the owl’s association with wisdom in classical mythology. This contrasts with the owl’s solitary nature, as they rarely gather in large groups.
A “murder” of crows is another example, likely originating from the bird’s historical association with death and folklore. Crows and ravens were often linked to dark omens in the medieval imagination. Similarly, a group of ferrets is called a “business,” describing the animal’s busy, active, and persistent nature.
Physical appearance can also inspire a collective noun, such as a “flamboyance” of flamingos. This name captures the visual spectacle of dozens of bright pink birds gathered in a colorful display.
How Animal Groups Function
The formation of animal groups is a fundamental biological strategy driven by tangible benefits that enhance survival and reproduction. A primary advantage of group living is defense against predators, utilizing the “many eyes” hypothesis where more individuals are vigilant for danger. This collective awareness allows for earlier detection of threats and coordinated defense behaviors, such as the synchronized movements of a fish school or bird flock that confuse an attacker.
Group living also improves foraging and hunting success, as seen with pack hunters like wolves or lions that cooperatively take down larger prey. Furthermore, a group allows for shared information about food sources, where successful foragers can direct others to rich patches. Sociality also provides opportunities for social learning, where younger animals acquire survival skills by observing experienced members, and for alloparenting, where individuals assist in raising young that are not their own.