murmuration
- noun
- /ˌmɜːrməˈreɪʃən/
- The birds gather in magical shape-shifting flocks called murmurations, having migrated in the millions from Russia and Scandinavia to escape winter's bite.
Examples
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The birds gather in shape-shifting flocks called murmurations, having migrated in the millions from Russia and Scandinavia to escape winter's frigid bite.
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Incredible footage of a murmuration of a few thousand starlings taken on 19th November 2011, at dusk, on a lovely clear day just off the coast of West Kirby, Wirral, near Liverpool, UK.
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A murmuration of starlings at Gretna.
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Millions of these birds flowing together in a murmuration draw predators such as hungry hawks.
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I went back to the reserve, and the giant flock or murmuration of starlings was right next to me this time.
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Immense magical murmuration of spectacular starlings and a single falcon over Gretna, Scotland.
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This extraordinarily beautiful ballet at dusk is a pre-roosting phenomenon known as starling murmuration.
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As the sun began to set, the starlings created a breathtaking murmuration that danced across the sky.
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At twilight, we watched a swirling murmuration of starlings form intricate shapes before settling for the night.
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The murmuration of thousands of starlings captivated the audience with its synchronized movements and fluid patterns.
Synonyms
A large group of insects or people moving together without control
A group of birds flying together
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Murmuration was later used for large flocks of starlings because the birds make a soft humming noise and move together like one living shape, much like a single murmur ('a low, soft sound'). So a murmuration of starlings is named for both the sound they make and the smooth, changing pattern they form.