Toddler Translations: Flock vs Pile

A few weeks ago, Molly Toddler and I were stopped at an intersection.

Molly: Hey mom, look at all those birds.

Me: Wow, sweetie- that's a lot of them.

Molly: It's a pile of birds!

Me (after I stopped laughing): Well, it's a big group of

birds. But they're not really in a pile. They're sitting side by side on the power lines. Things are only a pile if they're stacked- kind of like plates. But the birds do look a little like a sideways pile...

Seizing the moment, I began to talk to her about what to call groups of animals (herds, schools, etc.)

Me: ...and a big group of birds like that is called a flock of birds.

Molly (sighing): Um no mommy. I really think it's just a pile.

A few days ago, we were driving around town again and she saw a huge flock of birds in the sky.

Molly: Mommy! Do you see all those birds? Do you know what we call a flock of birds?

Me: What do we call them?

Molly:..........

Me: Did you mean to ask what do we call a group of birds?

Molly: Yes! What do we call them?

Me: We call them a flock.

Molly: That's right mommy! You're such a smart girl!

Thanks kiddo :-)