Conspiracy of Ravens

‘A murder of crows’, ‘a charm of goldfinches’, ‘an ostentation of peacocks’: collective nouns for British birds have existed since at least the mid fifteenth century. They are thought to originate in texts about hunting, but have since evolved into evocative, witty and literary expressions, each striving to capture the very essence of the animal they describe.Some are portentous – ‘a conspiracy of ravens’ perfectly evokes this sinister bird – others convey sound, such as ‘a murmuration of starlings’ or ‘a chattering of choughs’. Yet more reflect with a flourish the beauty of the bird itself: what could be more celebratory than ‘a crown of kingfishers’, or ‘an exaltation of larks’?The best of these imaginative expressions are collected here, illustrated with charming woodcuts by Thomas Bewick, the renowned naturalist engraver of the eighteenth century. Featuring songbirds, aquatic birds, birds of prey and garden favourites, this beautifully presented book will delight both bird-lovers and word-lovers in equal measure.

"Collective nouns are always pleasing--even when there is little evidence of their having been in close proximity to spoken language. . . . A few collective nouns for birds are still heard, . . . but your companion at the lakeside would be surprised to hear you cry, 'Behold, a posse of herons, ' or see you recoil at a 'dropping of pigeons.' These are included in this stocking-fillerish book, together with a 'soar of kites, ' a 'wake of buzzards, ' and a 'merl of blackbirds.'"-- "Times Literary Supplement"

Bill Oddie is a birdwatcher, broadcaster, television presenter, writer, musician and conservationist. Thomas Bewick (1753 – 1828) was an English engraver and natural history author.