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Murmuration

Short answer: Murmurations are the swirling pre-roost flocks of common starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), usually seen on autumn and winter evenings. In 2008, the STARFLAG team in Rome reconstructed flocks of thousands of birds in 3D.

They found each starling responds to a fixed number of nearest neighbors, about six or seven, rather than to every bird within a set distance. This 'topological' rule helps a flock stay together even as its density changes sharply under attack. A 2017 citizen-science study by Goodenough and colleagues analyzed thousands of UK reports. It found murmurations were bigger and lasted longer when predators such as peregrine falcons and sparrowhawks were around, which supports the 'safety in numbers' explanation. The study found little support for the idea that birds gather to keep warm. Studies of falcon attacks show waves of dark and light rippling away from the predator, and more waves were linked to fewer successful attacks. The idea that murmurations share information about feeding sites is still only a hypothesis.

VideoWrite-up3 sources
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What should you know about Murmuration?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. Each starling in a murmuration tracks about six or seven nearest neighbors.

    DD-653-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit B (Six or seven neighbors)

  2. Murmurations get bigger and last longer when predators are around.

    DD-653-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit D (Predators drive it)

Video transcript: Murmuration: Seven Neighbors Steer the Flock

DID YOU KNOW? A starling murmuration is the mesmerizing aerial display created when thousands of starlings swoop and swirl in synchronized patterns, moving as if they were a single living cloud. These flocks form at dusk, often near roosting sites, and scientists believe the behavior offers safety in numbers against predators like falcons, as well as communication about good feeding grounds. Each bird follows simple rules, keeping a set distance, matching speed, and aligning with its neighbors. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 26.8s Reel ·

Video coming soonMurmuration · Instagram Reel
Murmuration: Seven Neighbors Steer the Flock Instagram Reel · · 26.8s

The write-up

Seven neighbors steer the flock. Starlings track six or seven birds, not a set distance.

  1. Exhibit A

    What a murmuration is

    Murmurations are the swirling flocks common starlings form before settling to roost, mostly on autumn and winter evenings.

  2. Exhibit B

    Six or seven neighbors

    3D tracking of flocks in Rome found each bird responds to about six or seven nearest neighbors, not to all birds within a set distance.

  3. Exhibit C

    Why that matters

    That rule keeps a flock together even when its density changes sharply under a predator's attack.

  4. Exhibit D

    Predators drive it

    Thousands of UK citizen-science reports showed murmurations were bigger and lasted longer when raptors were around. They gave little support to the idea that birds gather to keep warm.

  5. Exhibit E

    Waves that confuse

    During falcon attacks, waves ripple away from the predator, and more waves were linked to fewer successful attacks.

Questions people ask about Murmuration

Roughly how many neighbors does each starling track?

About six or seven.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Six or seven neighbors) · Ballerini et al. (2008), Interaction ruling animal collective behavior depends on topological rather than metric distance, PNAS

What did the 2008 study find the rule depends on?

Topological distance, meaning number of neighbors.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Six or seven neighbors) · Ballerini et al. (2008), Interaction ruling animal collective behavior depends on topological rather than metric distance, PNAS

What makes murmurations bigger and longer, according to the 2017 study?

Raptors nearby.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Predators drive it) · Goodenough et al. (2017), Birds of a feather flock together: insights into starling murmuration behaviour revealed using citizen science, PLOS ONE

When are murmurations mostly seen?

Autumn and winter evenings.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (What a murmuration is) · Goodenough et al. (2017), Birds of a feather flock together: insights into starling murmuration behaviour revealed using citizen science, PLOS ONE

What ripples through a flock during a falcon attack?

Waves that spread away from the predator.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Waves that confuse) · Procaccini et al. (2011), Propagating waves in starling flocks under predation, Animal Behaviour

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. Roughly how many neighbors does each starling track?

    1. Six or seven
    2. One
    3. About 50
    4. Every bird in the flock
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Six or seven About six or seven. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Six or seven neighbors) · Ballerini et al. (2008), Interaction ruling animal collective behavior depends on topological rather than metric distance, PNAS

  2. What did the 2008 study find the rule depends on?

    1. Number of neighbors
    2. Fixed distance
    3. Wind speed
    4. Bird age
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Number of neighbors Topological distance, meaning number of neighbors. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Six or seven neighbors) · Ballerini et al. (2008), Interaction ruling animal collective behavior depends on topological rather than metric distance, PNAS

  3. What makes murmurations bigger and longer, according to the 2017 study?

    1. Predators nearby
    2. Warmer weather
    3. Full moons
    4. Rainfall
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Predators nearby Raptors nearby. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Predators drive it) · Goodenough et al. (2017), Birds of a feather flock together: insights into starling murmuration behaviour revealed using citizen science, PLOS ONE

  4. When are murmurations mostly seen?

    1. Autumn and winter evenings
    2. Summer mornings
    3. Midday in spring
    4. Only at midnight
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Autumn and winter evenings Autumn and winter evenings. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (What a murmuration is) · Goodenough et al. (2017), Birds of a feather flock together: insights into starling murmuration behaviour revealed using citizen science, PLOS ONE

  5. What ripples through a flock during a falcon attack?

    1. Waves of dark and light
    2. Silence
    3. Loud calls only
    4. Nothing visible
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Waves of dark and light Waves that spread away from the predator. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Waves that confuse) · Procaccini et al. (2011), Propagating waves in starling flocks under predation, Animal Behaviour

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Murmuration." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-653, last updated Sep 23, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/murmuration/

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