What Is a Group of Blackbirds Called?
One name, two unrelated birds, and a lot of confusion depending on which side of the Atlantic you’re on.
A group of blackbirds is most often called a cloud, with flock also used generally. “Blackbird” actually refers to two unrelated birds: the Eurasian common blackbird, a thrush, and New World blackbirds like the red-winged blackbird, which belong to an entirely different family.
What Is a Group of Blackbirds Called?
Cloud is the term most associated with blackbirds, capturing the dense, shifting masses these birds form, especially New World blackbirds gathering in enormous winter roosts. Flock is the safer, general-purpose alternative that works for either type of blackbird in any context.
Where Did the Name Come From?
“Cloud” is a fairly literal, visual description, some blackbird gatherings genuinely darken the sky. Some older collective-noun lists also include “merl,” but that’s actually an old dialect name for the bird itself (from the French merle), not a term for a group, likely folded in by mistake somewhere along the way.
Blackbird Facts
- Two unrelated birds, one name: The Eurasian common blackbird is a thrush closely related to the American robin, while New World blackbirds like the red-winged blackbird belong to an entirely different family (Icteridae) that also includes orioles and grackles.
- Fiercely protective fathers: Male red-winged blackbirds are notorious for aggressively dive-bombing anything, including humans, that gets too close to their nest during breeding season.
- A flute-like song: The Eurasian blackbird is known for one of the most musical, flute-like songs of any European garden bird, often among the first heard singing at dawn.
- Roosts in the millions: Some New World blackbird species form massive winter roosts, sometimes numbering in the millions of birds, among the largest gatherings of any land bird.
- Obvious male/female differences: Male Eurasian blackbirds are glossy black with a striking yellow-orange bill and eye-ring, while females are a duller brown, a stark contrast that makes the species easy to sex at a glance.
Example Sentences
- A cloud of blackbirds swept across the harvested field in perfect unison.
- The male blackbird’s song echoed through the garden well before sunrise.
Other Names for a Group of Blackbirds
Cloud is the more evocative, commonly cited term, especially for large winter gatherings. Flock works as a safe, general substitute in nearly any context and doesn’t require picking a side in the “which blackbird” debate.
🧠 Test Your Blackbird Knowledge
Three quick questions. See what stuck.
1. What’s the most evocative term for a group of blackbirds?
2. Are the Eurasian blackbird and New World blackbird closely related?
3. What are male red-winged blackbirds known for?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a group of blackbirds called?
Most often a cloud, with flock also commonly used.
Are all blackbirds the same species?
No. The Eurasian common blackbird is a thrush, while New World blackbirds like the red-winged blackbird belong to a different family entirely.
Why do red-winged blackbirds attack people?
Males aggressively defend their nesting territory during breeding season and will dive-bomb perceived threats, including humans.
How large can a blackbird roost get?
Some New World blackbird species form winter roosts numbering in the millions of birds.
Is “merl” a term for a group of blackbirds?
No, merl is an old dialect name for the bird itself, not a collective noun.
One Name, Two Very Different Birds
A cloud of blackbirds is a fitting image either way, whether it’s a European thrush known for its song or a fiercely territorial American icterid, both earn the name through sheer numbers and presence.