murmuration

Everyday

1. A huge flock of starlings flying together and swirling in changing shapes in the sky, usually at dusk. tree →
2. (literary) A soft, low murmuring sound. tree →

In the lessons

In nature lessons murmurations are an amazing example of animals moving together: each bird copies its nearest neighbours, and the whole flock moves like smoke. They help protect starlings from hawks. In the UK and Ireland they are watched in autumn and winter. Phrases: «a murmuration of starlings».

Examples

• We watched a murmuration of starlings over the pier. tree →
• The murmuration swirled like a black cloud. tree →
• Thousands of starlings make a murmuration before they roost. tree →
• Each bird watches its neighbours in a murmuration. tree →
• A falcon dived into the murmuration but missed. tree →

Note

Countable. Collective noun for starlings: «a murmuration of starlings».