Collective noun

murmuration

Also spelled Murmuracōn (1486)

What do you call a group of starlings?

a murmuration of starlings

Used for
1 subject
Categories
Animals
Subcategories
Birds
Type
Specific
Best confidence
high

Definition

  1. A flock of starlings, in particular when swarming in swirling patterns.

Other senses of the word: murmuration on Wiktionary

Usage as a collective noun

a murmuration of starlings

Book of St Albans
Subject
starling (starlings)
Category
Animals → Birds
Confidence
high
Attestation
historical-source, wikipedia-cited, wiktionary-attested
Also spelled
Murmuracōn (1486)
8 sources
  1. Wikipedia - List of animal names
  2. Oxford Dictionaries - What do you call a group of ...?
  3. Zoological Society of San Diego - Animal group names
  4. U.S. Geological Survey Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center - Common Questions: What Do You Call a Group of...?
  5. Elliot Stock - The Boke of Saint Albans
  6. Wiktionary - murmuration
  7. Wiktionary - Appendix:English collective nouns
  8. Book of Saint Albans (1486) - The companyes of bestys & foules

Related words

Other groups of starlings

chattering