Murmuration

OldGoat · 2011-01-19 08:40:58

A thread has shown up in the Photography forum about the flocking of starlings and how to capture the image of them. An article linked in the thread refers to this flocking before roosting as 'murmuration'. Now thats a lovely word so I looked it up and lo the definition of murmuration seems to be a collective noun for…

19-01-2011 08:40AM

#1

OldGoat

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A thread has shown up in the Photography forum about the flocking of starlings and how to capture the image of them. An article linked in the thread refers to this flocking before roosting as 'murmuration'. Now thats a lovely word so I looked it up and lo the definition of murmuration seems to be a collective noun for starlings.
Can anyone here throw a little light on this for me? Is murmuration the aerial dance of the starlings or the name for a group of starlings?

I'm older than Minecraft goats.

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#2 19-01-2011 12:08PM

Mothman

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Never heard of murmuration, but it does seem apt and it is mentioned in a reference I have. I suggest it'll cover either of the scenarios you mention.

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#3 19-01-2011 12:24PM

E39MSport

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http://lmgtfy.com/?q=define%3Amurmuration
No mention of starlings though. May be an association with the noise they make while flying in flock.

Agreed - lovely word though.

edit: - Google has plenty of references for murmuration and starling

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#4 20-01-2011 12:02PM

marlin vs

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Different version's for groups of Starling's.
(Iv'e allway's referred to it as a Mumm.)

A murmation of Starling's.

A murmurmation of Starling's.

A filth of Starling's.

A chattering of Starling's.

An affliction of Starling's.

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