What name is given to a group of geese in the air?

It's not all that simple about geese! Besides the fact that the word goose has an irregular plural form geese, it's also a challenge to find a right word to name a group of these birds.

A collective noun, defining a group of geese, is usually chosen on the basis of the place of the group. If you see several geese walking in a group on land, you are to call them a gaggle; but when you see a group of geese flying, you can call them a skein.

Geese are waterfowl belonging to the tribe Anserini of the family Anatidae. This tribe comprises the genera Anser (the grey geese), Branta (the black geese) and Chen (the white geese). A number of other birds, mostly related to the shelducks, have "goose" as part of their names. More distantly related members of the family Anatidae are swans, most of which are larger than true geese, and ducks, which are smaller.

More Info: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Test your knowledge

What are your thoughts on this subject?

92 Comments

Lydia Coutts

It's not a trick question at all. It clearly asks "What name is given to a group of geese IN THE AIR".

Sharalie Martin

Excellent question.

Lydia Coutts

If you had bothered to read the given answer, you'd have seen that "defining a group of geese is usually chosen on the basis of the place of the group. If you see several geese walking in a group on land, you are to call them a gaggle; but when you see a group of geese flying, you can call them a skein." What's more, the answer you found even states that the name is "depending on the physical location or activity of the group."

Lydia Coutts

Hermanus Potgieter Not so! I assumed it wouldn't be gaggle or flock cause they are too well known, and gargle was too close to gaggle (and a bit silly), so I picked skein. We aren't all cheaters!

Mary Wells

Great question!

Jacqueline Tattam

Great question! Thank you

fdeisner

Get the flock out of here. Got me on this one 😆

Jas Newman

Ben, What does your comment mean?

earlepg

Of course, like many others, anytime I see a bunch of birds (whatever the species) I just call them a flock whether flying, swimming, or walking. However, I remember hearing that the group of flying geese are referred to as a skein (pronounced SKAYN).