A Murmuration of Starlings

Yes indeed, murmuration is the term for a group of Starlings. It really doesn't give an indication of how noisy they can be especially when they are squabbling over food. Starlings constitute the largest group of all the birds which visit my feeders at any one time. There can be any number up to about sixteen at once. The next largest group in my garden being the six Chaffinches which feed quietly together on the lawn.


MAKE WAY - COMING IN TO LAND



The Starlings expend so much energy squabbling I'm not surprised they are so greedy and take such a large share of the food I put out. They must use up half of what they eat in keeping others away from their favourite food.


CLEAR OFF - THIS IS ALL MINE



All this noise and flapping of wings doesn't put off the smaller birds though. They bide their time, choose their moment and swoop in to grab a tasty morsel and are away again before the Starlings notice. Even the tiny Coal Tits dive in to get their share.