Murmuration

Murmuration involves thousands to millions of starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) wheeling in fluid, shape-shifting formations at dusk before roosting. Computer modeling shows each bird tracks its six or seven nearest neighbors, creating collective responses that propagate through the flock faster than any individual reaction time. This creates an 'information cascade' that confuses predators such as peregrines. Murmurations are most spectacular in autumn and winter in Western Europe and are increasingly studied as models of collective intelligence.