What Is a Group of Bats Called?

A group of bats is called a colony. This is the most common collective noun used to describe bats when they gather together, especially when they roost. A colony of bats can contain anywhere from a small number to thousands of individuals living closely in caves, trees, or man-made structures.

Other less common but still recognized names for a group of bats include a cauldron, particularly when they are flying, as well as camp or cloud. The term "cauldron of bats" poetically refers to the swirling mass they create in flight at dusk. However, "colony" remains the standard scientific and general term for a group of bats gathered in one place.

So, whether resting in a cave or taking to the air, the proper collective noun to use is mainly a colony of bats.