What is Murmuration?Different groups of birds are given many different names. For example, collections of finches are called charms, while groups of crows are known as murders. A murmuration, however, is the term used to describe the mesmerizing display put on by troops of starling birds in the evening, shortly before sunset, in which anywhere from a few hundred to multiple thousands of starling birds swarm the skies in a performance of synchronized aerial feats before choosing a place to nest for the night. Murmurations, as can be observed in the video to the right of this text, are considered to be one of the most spectacular displays of collective animal behavior, where the flock seems to be an entity of it's own, rather than simply a mere some of birds.
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What are Starling Birds?The European Starling Bird (Sturnus vulgaris) is a songbird that is characterized by its stocky stature, black feathers, short tails, triangular wings, and long, pointed bills. Starlings are covered in white spots during the winter, but become dark and glossy during the winter. The European Starling is also notorious for being loud, boisterous, and aggressive.
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References
Cavagna, A., & Giardina, I. (n.d.). The seventh starling. Significance, 5(2), 62-66. doi:10.1111/j.1740-9713.2008.00288.x
Cavagna A, Queiro´s SMD, Giardina I, Stefanini F, Viale M. 2013 Diffusion of individual birds in starling flocks. Proc R Soc B 280: 20122484. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.2484
European Starling. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015.
King, A., & Sumpter, D. (n.d.). Murmurations. Current Biology, 22(4), R112-R114. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2011.11.033
Cavagna A, Queiro´s SMD, Giardina I, Stefanini F, Viale M. 2013 Diffusion of individual birds in starling flocks. Proc R Soc B 280: 20122484. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.2484
European Starling. (n.d.). Retrieved August 10, 2015.
King, A., & Sumpter, D. (n.d.). Murmurations. Current Biology, 22(4), R112-R114. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2011.11.033
Multimedia Sources
Cover Image: http://www.laboiteverte.fr/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/murmuration-alain-delorme-03.jpg
Header Image: https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5171/5429758700_8f8b9b0c21_b.jpg
Murmuration Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eakKfY5aHmY
Collective Animal Behavior Information Link:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1626537/?tool=pmcentrez
Starling Image: http://www.picasuk.com/problem_birds_starling_sparrow3.jpg
Starling Information Link: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/European_Starling/id
Header Image: https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5171/5429758700_8f8b9b0c21_b.jpg
Murmuration Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eakKfY5aHmY
Collective Animal Behavior Information Link:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1626537/?tool=pmcentrez
Starling Image: http://www.picasuk.com/problem_birds_starling_sparrow3.jpg
Starling Information Link: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/European_Starling/id
