A group of squirrels is called a church, one of the more whimsical entries in English’s long tradition of animal collective nouns.
Squirrels are found on every continent except Antarctica and Australia, and their social habits vary a lot by species, tree squirrels tend to be loners with overlapping territories, while ground squirrels are often genuinely social, living in burrow colonies. That range of behavior is part of why squirrels have collected such a varied set of collective nouns over time.
What Is a Group of Squirrels Called?
The most iconic term is a church of squirrels, though its exact origin is unclear, it appears on older word lists without a well-documented explanation, and is generally treated as one of the more fanciful, invented-for-fun collective nouns rather than a term with real historical use. Far more common in everyday and scientific writing is a scurry of squirrels, a straightforwardly descriptive term for the quick, darting way squirrels move.
Other Collective Nouns for Squirrels
A few other terms are used depending on context:
- Scurry — a descriptive term referring to the fast, energetic movement squirrels are known for, especially when several are foraging or chasing one another.
- Dray — technically the name for a squirrel’s nest, built from twigs and leaves in a tree fork, and by extension, the family group living in it.
- Colony — used specifically for ground squirrels, which are genuinely social and live together in burrow systems, unlike most tree squirrels.
Where Did the Name Come From?
“Church” doesn’t have a clear, well-documented origin the way some collective nouns do. It shows up in various historical and modern lists of animal group names, but unlike terms tied to observed behavior or hunting practice, there’s no strong consensus on why squirrels specifically earned this label. It’s best understood as one of the more playful, folklore-adjacent entries in the broader tradition of English collective nouns, terms that were sometimes coined more for cleverness or amusement than accuracy.
“Dray,” by contrast, has a straightforward and well-documented origin: it’s simply the name of the nest itself, borrowed from an old word for a low cart or sledge, and it made practical sense to extend the term to the squirrels living together in one.
Squirrel Facts
- Habitat: Squirrels live nearly worldwide, in forests, grasslands, mountains, and cities, occupying everything from treetop nests to underground burrows depending on the species.
- Social behavior: Tree squirrels are largely solitary foragers with overlapping home ranges, while ground squirrels are more social and often live in colonies with shared burrow systems.
- Diet: Squirrels are omnivores, eating nuts, seeds, fruit, fungi, and occasionally insects, eggs, or small invertebrates.
- Lifespan: Wild tree squirrels typically live around 6 years on average, though individuals in favorable conditions with fewer predators can live considerably longer.
- Squirrels are prolific scatter-hoarders, burying food in many small caches, and rely on both memory and smell to relocate their stashes later.
- A squirrel’s bushy tail isn’t just for show, it helps with balance while climbing and acts as a signal to communicate with other squirrels.
Example Sentences
- A church of squirrels chased each other around the base of the old oak tree.
- A scurry of squirrels darted across the park lawn as the dog approached.
- The naturalist pointed out a dray of squirrels nesting high in the maple branches.
Other Names for a Group of Squirrels
Explore the individual collective nouns for squirrels in more depth:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a group of squirrels called?
A group of squirrels is most iconically called a church, though the everyday and more descriptive term scurry is used just as often, especially for tree squirrels darting around together.
Why is a group of squirrels called a church?
The origin of “church” as a term for squirrels isn’t well documented. It appears on collective-noun lists without a clear historical explanation and is generally considered a whimsical or folklore-style term rather than one based on observed behavior.
What is a dray of squirrels?
A dray technically refers to a squirrel’s nest, a bundle of twigs and leaves built in a tree fork, and by extension, to the squirrels living together in it.
Are squirrels actually social animals?
It depends on the species. Most tree squirrels are largely solitary with overlapping territories, while ground squirrels, like prairie dogs’ relatives, are genuinely social and live in colonies.
Do squirrels really forget where they bury their food?
Squirrels forget or fail to recover some of their caches, which is one reason they inadvertently help plant new trees, but they rely on a combination of spatial memory and smell to relocate most of their stashes.
When is “colony” used instead of “scurry” for squirrels?
“Colony” is typically reserved for ground squirrels, which live in structured, social burrow systems, unlike the more loosely organized tree squirrels usually described as a scurry.
Related: Collective Nouns for Mammals