We've all heard birds of a feather flock together, but what does it mean and where did the saying come from? Do bird species really flock together?
“Birds of a feather flock together.” You’ve heard this phrase hundreds, or maybe even thousands of times — but do you know what it means? Do birds of a feather really flock together in nature, or is this just a nifty-sounding rhyme?
Here’s what to know about this commonly used phrase, including where it (might have) originated, what people are really saying when they say it, and whether, from an ornithological perspective, birds of a feather do flock together.
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Birds of a Feather Meaning
When used in casual conversation, “birds of a feather flock together” isn’t usually referring to birds migrating in flocks: it’s referring to people. By implying birds of the same species tend to be found in the same place, the birds of feather meaning assumes people with things in common — similar hobbies, interests, beliefs, etc. — will also be found in the same place.
For example, if you’re a birder, you might go on a birding walk with other birders or even attend a festival such as the Biggest Week in American Birding. In your case, then, birds of a ‘birding’ feather would be flocking together… maybe even for the sake of seeing a flock of birds.
Where Did the Saying Come From?
As is the case with many sayings used for centuries, the origin of “birds of a feather flock together” isn’t clear. A similar phrase appears in an ancient Hebrew religious text written in around 180 BC. When translated, it reads “birds resort unto their like.”
In English writing, the earliest known use of the phrase occurs in 1545. There, it appears as “birds of one kind and color always flock together.” Translators did, at times, include the phrase in works of Plato. However, Plato himself is unlikely to have used it as written.
Do Birds of a Feather Really Flock Together?
From a scientific perspective, the answer is… well, sometimes. Depending on the species in question, birders might find many “birds of a feather” flocking together. Some birds commonly spotted in single-species groups are finches, such as goldfinches; corvids, such as ravens, jays, and crows; and ducks and geese, such as Canada geese and snow geese.
Other times you will find solitary individuals, such as territorial hummingbirds, navigating through life without a flock.
It’s important to note, however, that flocking behavior can be variable. Some species form mixed flocks in winter (as is the case with downy woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees). And while some birds such as Mexican jays and Florida-scrub jays form social flocks and assist others of the same species in raising young, others establish firm territories and raise young either with a mate or on their own. Some birds migrate as a same-species group (picture a v-shaped flock of Canada geese), and others are solitary migrants (hummingbirds).
So, although “birds of a feather flock together” is a fun — and as applied to humans, often correct — idiom, it’s not always true when applied to real-life bird behavior. That said, we’ll still say it when it fits in conversation… or listen to the 2024 song “Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish if we’re in the mood for some pop music.
