Animal BehaviorBehavioral Ecology |
Why do birds flock? |
The old adage about “safety in numbers” certainly holds true for flocking birds and other social groups. Flocks, herds, schools, and others provide a refuge for the young and an antipredator advantage for all. In addition, the simultaneous movements of a large number of prey are apt to confuse predators and decrease the likelihood that they will capture any one individual.