Friday, Jul 24, 2026 The claims desk. Receipts included. POWERED BY LENZ
IsThis

GENERAL

The Claim

A group of owls is called a parliament.

The Short Version

"Parliament" is indeed a widely recognized collective noun for a group of owls, confirmed across multiple reference sources including HowStuffWorks, Birdfact, and Grammar Monster. The phrase "is called" does not imply it is the only term — alternatives like "stare" and "wisdom" also exist — but "parliament" is the most commonly cited. The term's exact historical origin is debated, but its current usage in English is well established and uncontested.

Caveats

  • Other collective nouns for owls also exist, including 'stare,' 'study,' and 'wisdom' — 'parliament' is the most common but not the only recognized term.
  • The historical origin of 'parliament of owls' is debated; at least one source suggests it may be a modern literary coinage rather than a medieval term of venery.
  • Most sources supporting the claim are popular reference sites rather than primary lexicographic authorities, though they are consistent in their agreement.

The Receipts

  1. A Parliament of Owls: Meaning and Origin - big bird - Alibaba.com

    Alibaba.com

  2. What is a Group of Owls Called? - Jagran Josh

    Jagran Josh

  3. The Wise Assembly: Why a Group of Owls Is Called a Parliament - Oreate AI Blog

    Oreate AI Blog

  4. What Group of Birds Is Called a Parliament? | HowStuffWorks

    HowStuffWorks

  5. What is a Group of Owls Called? (Complete Guide) - Birdfact

    Birdfact

  6. Collective Noun for Owls - Grammar Monster

    Grammar Monster

  7. Why is a group of owls called a 'parliament'? - Deccan Herald

    Deccan Herald

  8. "A Parliament of Owls" is a play on Chaucer's title Parliament of Fowls. As far as I know, it's a purely 20th century pun on the part of C.S. ...

    ScienceBlogs

  9. Karl Jenkins' Parliament of Owls Celebrates Collective Nouns

    Boosey & Hawkes

  10. Why is it called a “parliament of owls” and other such collective ...

    Popperfont

Filed Under

owls