During late autumn, when winter is just round the corner,
there comes a time of the year when flocks of starlings create incredible
aerobatic displays, swirling through the sky in magnificent ballets that almost
seem choreographed. This dazzling display of avian behavior is known as a
murmuration, a word that perfectly describes the rustle of thousands of pairs
of wings. It is one of the most spectacular displays in the natural world as
the flock changes shape, looking like a colossal wisp of smoke one minute , the
next a tornado, the next a thundercloud blocking the light. The collective
dance of the birds is truly a sight to behold.
A murmuration was captured by Sophie Windsor Clive and
Liberty Smith on a canoe trip atop Ireland's River Shannon. The 2-minute clip
began circulating on the Internet to popular acclaim.
A murmuration in Blackpool © Jackie Moreton
A murmuration of starlings.
A photographer captures the moment 5,000 birds create an
exclamation mark formation in the sky.
A flock of birds cried fowl in spectacular fashion when a
predator swooped in for the kill - forcing them to form the shape of an
exclamation mark. Photographer Nuray Gonulalan was amazed when she looked up
and saw the familiar punctuation symbol - often associated with shock or panic
- hovering above her. She grabbed her camera and captured the pack of birds in
their striking formation as they desperately attempted to escape in Mogan Lake,
Ankara, Turkey.
The flock of birds also formed a tornado-esque shape in the
sky.
A bird-shaped formation of flamingos pops in bright pink
from the muddy waters of a placid lagoon in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, along
the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
The sky is smiling.
The ability of animal groups—such as this flock of
starlings—to shift shape as one, even when they have no leader, reflects the
genius of collective behavior—something scientists are now tapping to solve
human problems. Photograph by Manuel Presti.
At first glance this incredible picture may look like one
huge bird hovering in the sky, but the amazing outline is actually formed by a
flock of starlings. The birds made the unbelievable formation as they came
under threat from a nearby peregrine falcon. Once the flock had spotted the
predator they grouped together to mimic the appearance of a massive flying
creature.
Amateur photographer Rob Wolstenholme was on hand to snap
the mind-boggling phenomenon at Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve in
Somerset.
This giant starling formation over the setting sun was
spotted in Taunton, Somerset
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