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Flocking
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{{Short description|Swarming behaviour of birds when flying or foraging}} {{for|the artistic technique|Flocking (texture)}} [[Image:Grus grus flocks.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Two flocks of [[common crane]]s]][[Image:The flock of starlings acting as a swarm. - geograph.org.uk - 124593.jpg|thumb|200px|right|A swarm-like flock of [[starling]]s]] '''Flocking''' is the behavior exhibited when a group of birds, called a [[Flock (birds)|flock]], are [[foraging]] or in flight. Sheep and goats also exhibit flocking behavior. Flocking by birds and mammals is similar to [[Shoaling and schooling|schooling]] in fish and these are often studied together. Flocking is generally believed to arise from the need for cover and protection from predators in animal behavior.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Hamilton |first=W.D. |title=Geometry of the Selfish Herd | url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0022519371901895 | journal=Journal of Theoretical Biology | volume=31 | issue=2 | year=1971 | pages=295β311 |doi=10.1016/0022-5193(71)90189-5| url-access=subscription }}</ref> This is an [[emergence|emergent]] behaviour governed by local rules that are followed by individuals and does not involve any central coordination.
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