Terms of venery relate to specific groups of animals and stem from an aristocratic hunting tradition in 15th century Britain.įor the elite, hunting was more than just a pleasurable activity or a means of obtaining sustenance it was a significant indicator of nobility and privilege. It’s possible they could be assessing a dead bird friend to learn about potential threats and dangers. The crows don’t usually touch the body out of fear. When a crow dies, other flock members have often been witnessed gathering together and attending a kind of funeral. However, there is no evidence that crows or other birds habitually execute members of their species. The only shred of reality is that crows will occasionally murder weak or injured crows who infringe on their area during battles thus, this myth has some truth. If they deem their fellow crow guilty, they will all gang up to murder and eat their flock member. One superstition was that crows form parliaments to assess whether a group member has engaged in any wrongdoing and decide its capital fate. But hanging around these dark, often death-associated places earned crows a reputation for being sinister, with their appearance seen as an omen of death by many. Why are crows linked to murder?ĭue to their omnivorous and scavenging nature, crows were often seen hanging around battlefields, gallows, and hospitals waiting for their opportunity to source carrion. The origin of this phrase has various distinct explanations, most of which are based on old folk tales and superstitions. The term “murder of crows” refers to when crows or animals were given vivid and poetic names. The Corvidae family comprises around 40 species primarily viewed as pests due to their reputation for preying on endangered songbirds and destroying crops. Corvids refer to a group of birds that includes ravens, magpies, crows, and jays. The genus Corvus is known by the common name crow. The terms of venery we assign to groups of animals are colorful and intriguing linguistic phrases that require wit to create and are fun to use. Collective nouns or terms of venery are whimsical ways to describe groups of animals, from a bellowing of bullfinches to a scurry of chipmunks, a flamboyance of flamingos, and a parliament of owls.
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