Starling group name

[watsthat]

I always thought it was a murmuration of starlings but was informed today that it is a chattering. Is there a definitive name for them.

Cheers

Pete

[aeshna5]

Murmuration is the collective noun I'm familiar with for Starlings.

[healfdan]

Chattering that's a new one for me. I always felt if you wanted to impress you called it a murmuration of starlings and if it was just casual speech, a flock would suffice.

[slimrbp]

A quick internet search seems to suggest both are in use

[faz]

is it when the starlings are in display mode before going to roost its called a murmuration

[watsthat]

I don`t know but there is a pint at stake here

Pete

[healfdan]

Hello Pete

Tricky one this as local names sometimes over rule common names.
However, as the stakes are so high, adopt an air of intellectual superiority and state that according to the Oxford Dictionary chattering , although used to describe a flock of starlings, is less widely used than the popular collective noun murmuration. Continue in a friendly way by adding; my dear friend although we are both right, I feel that my case is stronger and I do believe it's your round next.

[Hedera]

There's a line in a poem by T. S. Eliot we learnt at school for an example of alliteration: "A murmuration of starlings over wolds unwittingly weave" I shall never forget!

[SheffieldLass]

It should be a chattering of sparrows, much more appropriate bird for the word ...

[Tringa]

I think it should be a stropiness of starlings.

Dave