Biology2000 - 2024
Fact #57 of 99

Bizzare Facts

Bizarre Fact:
A group of flamingos is called a 'flamboyance'.

Quick Explanation:

The collective noun for these brightly colored birds perfectly captures their vibrant, showy appearance.

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The Full Story:

Collective nouns in English are often poetic, but few are as fitting as the term for a gathering of flamingos: a **flamboyance**. The word is derived from the French *flamboyer*, meaning 'to flame,' which perfectly describes the sea of bright pink and orange feathers seen when a colony gathers.

Other colorful collective nouns include a 'murder' of crows, a 'parliament' of owls, and a 'kaleidoscope' of butterflies. These terms, dating back to medieval hunting traditions (specifically the Book of Saint Albans in 1486), were often playful and descriptive, intended to capture the character of the animal rather than just its number.

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A group of flamingos is called a 'flamboyance'. - Bizarre Fact | Schoolyard Myths