Summary

This episode—which is Number 57— is all about the flocking behavior of birds.

Birds of many species spend at least part of their yearly cycle hanging out in groups. This could be just a handful of individuals or it could be a gathering of millions of birds.

Today, we’ll look at some explanations for why—as the saying goes—birds of a feather flock together. What benefits do birds get from forming groups like this?

We’ll also look at how flocks work. As in, their mechanics. For example, how do birds communicate and coordinate their movements in a flock?

~~ Leave me a review using Podchaser ~~

Links of Interest

• Starling Murmuration [VIDEO]
• Boids algorithm demonstration

Research Citations

• Revealing the hidden networks of interaction in mobile animal groups allows prediction of complex behavioral contagion
• Statistical mechanics for natural flocks of birds
• Starling Flock Networks Manage Uncertainty in Consensus at Low Cost
• Flights of fear: a mechanical wing whistle sounds the alarm in a flocking bird
• Aerial flocking patterns of wintering starlings, Sturnus vulgaris, under different predation risk
• Higher-level evolution of intraspecific flock-feeding in birds

Photos

Attributions

• American Robin sounds (Xeno Canto recording XC130246)
• Scaly-breasted Munia sounds (Xeno Canto recording XC585396)
• Dunlin sounds (Xeno Canto recording XC626245)
• Crested PIgeon sounds (Xeno Canto recording XC443064)
• Mourning Dove sounds (Xeno Canto recording XC153648)