Flock vs. Herd: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
A flock is a group of birds or sheep, while a herd refers to a group of certain other animals like cows or elephants.
Key Differences
A flock is a group of birds or, more specifically, domesticated sheep. A herd refers to a group of certain other types of animals, typically large mammals such as cows, elephants, or horses.
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Nov 08, 2023
Flocks are associated primarily with birds, as in a flock of geese, but can also denote a group of sheep or goats. Herds are usually composed of hoofed animals that graze together, such as cattle or buffalo.
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Nov 08, 2023
In the context of behavior, flocking implies a coordinated group movement seen in birds or sheep, often related to flying or walking in unison. Herding suggests a collective movement as well, but is more commonly applied to terrestrial mammals moving across ground.
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Nov 08, 2023
When one refers to a flock, it can also convey the connotation of guidance by a shepherd or bird leader. Conversely, a herd often implies a shared leadership or a guided movement by a herder or group instinct.
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Both flocks and herds describe social groupings of animals, with the terms being interchangeable in some colloquial contexts, yet biologically and culturally distinct with regard to the species they describe.
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Nov 08, 2023
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Comparison Chart
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Flock and Herd Definitions
Flock
A group of birds, often flying together.
A flock of pigeons gathered in the square.
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Nov 08, 2023
Herd
A group of typically large animals, such as cattle, that graze and travel together.
The cowboy led the herd across the plains.
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Nov 08, 2023
Flock
A number of domestic sheep kept by a shepherd.
He tended to his flock with great care.
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Nov 08, 2023
Herd
Used to describe collective animal behavior.
The herd instinct kicked in when danger approached.
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Flock
Used metaphorically to mean a group of people.
The flock of tourists left the bus eagerly.
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Nov 08, 2023
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Herd
A group of cattle or other large herbivorous mammals of a single kind kept together for a specific purpose.
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Oct 19, 2023
Herd
A number of wild animals of one species, especially large herbivorous mammals, that remain together as a group
A herd of elephants.
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Oct 19, 2023
Flock
A group of people under the leadership of one person, especially the members of a church.
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Oct 19, 2023
Herd
The multitude of common people regarded as a mass
"It is the luxurious and dissipated who set the fashions which the herd so diligently follow" (Henry David Thoreau).
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Oct 19, 2023
Flock
A number of birds together in a group, such as those gathered together for the purpose of migration.
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Oct 19, 2023
Flock
A large number of animals associated together in a group; commonly used of sheep, but dated also used for goats, farmed animals, and a wide variety of animals.
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Oct 19, 2023
Herd
To gather and place into a group or mass
Herded the children into the auditorium.
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Oct 19, 2023
Herd
A number of domestic animals assembled together under the watch or ownership of a keeper.
A herd of cattle
A herd of sheep
A herd of goats
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Oct 19, 2023
Herd
(intransitive) To unite or associate in a herd; to feed or run together, or in company.
Sheep herd on many hills.
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Oct 19, 2023
Flock
Very fine sifted woollen refuse, especially that from shearing the nap of cloths, formerly used as a coating for wallpaper to give it a velvety or clothlike appearance; also, the dust of vegetable fibre used for a similar purpose.
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Oct 19, 2023
Flock
(intransitive) To congregate in or head towards a place in large numbers.
People flocked to the cinema to see the new film.
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Oct 19, 2023
Herd
(transitive) To manage, care for or guard a herd
He is employed to herd the goats.
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Oct 19, 2023
Herd
(intransitive) To associate; to ally oneself with, or place oneself among, a group or company.
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Flock
(transitive) To coat a surface with dense fibers or particles; especially, to create a dense arrangement of fibers with a desired nap.
The sampling and elution advantages of flocked swabs versus spun swabs
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Oct 19, 2023
Herd
(transitive) To move or drive a herd.
I heard the herd of cattle being herded home from a long way away.
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Oct 19, 2023
Flock
A company or collection of living creatures; - especially applied to sheep and birds, rarely to persons or (except in the plural) to cattle and other large animals; as, a flock of ravenous fowl.
The heathen . . . came to Nicanor by flocks.
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Oct 19, 2023
Flock
A Christian church or congregation; considered in their relation to the pastor, or minister in charge.
As half amazed, half frighted all his flock.
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Oct 19, 2023
Herd
A number of beasts assembled together; as, a herd of horses, oxen, cattle, camels, elephants, deer, or swine; a particular stock or family of cattle.
The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea.
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Oct 19, 2023
Flock
A lock of wool or hair.
I prythee, Tom, beat Cut's saddle, put a few flocks in the point [pommel].
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Oct 19, 2023
Herd
A crowd of low people; a rabble.
But far more numerous was the herd of suchWho think too little and who talk too much.
You can never interest the common herd in the abstract question.
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Oct 19, 2023
Flock
Very fine, sifted, woolen refuse, especially that from shearing the nap of cloths, used as a coating for wall paper to give it a velvety or clothlike appearance; also, the dust of vegetable fiber used for a similar purpose.
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Oct 19, 2023
Herd
One who herds or assembles domestic animals; a herdsman; - much used in composition; as, a shepherd; a goatherd, and the like.
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Oct 19, 2023
Herd
To unite or associate in a herd; to feed or run together, or in company; as, sheep herd on many hills.
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Oct 19, 2023
Herd
To associate; to ally one's self with, or place one's self among, a group or company.
I'll herd among his friends, and seemOne of the number.
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Oct 19, 2023
Flock
To coat with flock, as wall paper; to roughen the surface of (as glass) so as to give an appearance of being covered with fine flock.
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Oct 19, 2023
Herd
A group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans
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Oct 19, 2023
Flock
(often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent;
A batch of letters
A deal of trouble
A lot of money
He made a mint on the stock market
It must have cost plenty
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Oct 19, 2023
Herd
A group of wild animals of one species that remain together: antelope or elephants or seals or whales or zebra
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Herd
A crowd especially of ordinary or undistinguished persons or things;
His brilliance raised him above the ruck
The children resembled a fairy herd
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Oct 19, 2023
Herd
Cause to herd, drive, or crowd together;
We herded the children into a spare classroom
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Oct 19, 2023
Flock
Move as a crowd or in a group;
Tourists flocked to the shrine where the statue was said to have shed tears
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Oct 19, 2023
Flock
Come together as in a cluster or flock;
The poets constellate in this town every summer
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Herd
Keep, move, or drive animals;
Who will be herding the cattle when the cowboy dies?
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Flock
Can denote a congregation in a religious context.
The pastor addressed his flock during the service.
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Herd
Can also refer to a large group of people, often used pejoratively.
The shoppers moved like a herd on Black Friday.
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Flock
Sometimes used to describe a large number of items clustered together.
A flock of thoughts crowded her mind.
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Herd
In wildlife management, it refers to a managed group of wild animals.
The national park's bison herd is a major attraction.
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Nov 08, 2023
Herd
Sometimes used as a verb meaning to gather or move as a group.
She herded the children into the classroom.
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Nov 08, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can "flock" refer to animals other than birds or sheep?
Yes, though less commonly, "flock" can refer to a group of goats or similar animals.
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Nov 08, 2023
Is a group of fish called a flock or a herd?
Neither, a group of fish is called a school or shoal.
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Nov 08, 2023
How many animals does it take to make a herd?
Similar to a flock, any small group of grazing animals can be called a herd.
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Nov 08, 2023
Can "flock" be used as a verb?
Yes, "flock" can be a verb meaning to gather or move together in a group.
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Nov 08, 2023
Can the term "herd" apply to birds?
No, "herd" is not typically used for birds; "flock" is the correct term.
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Nov 08, 2023
How many animals does it take to make a flock?
There is no specific number; any small group of birds or sheep can be called a flock.
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Nov 08, 2023
Can "herd" be used as a verb?
Yes, "herd" can be a verb meaning to gather or move animals in a group.
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Nov 08, 2023
Can people be described as a flock?
Yes, people can be described as a flock in a metaphorical sense, often in a religious or guided context.
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Nov 08, 2023
What is a flock in animal terms?
A flock is a group of birds or sheep that travel or feed together.
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Nov 08, 2023
What animals make up a herd?
A herd is typically made up of larger animals like cows, elephants, or horses.
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In religion, what does a flock represent?
In religious terms, a flock often refers to a congregation of faithful followers.
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What does "herding cats" mean?
It's an idiom that refers to an attempt to control or organize a group of people that is difficult to manage.
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What's the verb form of "flock"?
The verb form is "to flock," meaning to gather or move together.
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Nov 08, 2023
What's the verb form of "herd"?
The verb form is "to herd," meaning to assemble or guide animals in a group.
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Nov 08, 2023
Are there specific breeds that always form flocks?
Certain bird species and sheep breeds are known for flocking behavior.
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Nov 08, 2023
What is a shepherd's role with a flock?
A shepherd tends, guides, and guards a flock of sheep.
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Nov 08, 2023
Do the terms flock and herd have different origins?
Yes, "flock" comes from Old English "flocc," while "herd" comes from Old English "heord."
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Nov 08, 2023
Can people be described as a herd?
Yes, but it can have a negative connotation, suggesting a lack of individuality.
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Nov 08, 2023
What is a herder's role with a herd?
A herder manages and guides a herd of grazing animals.
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Nov 08, 2023
Are there specific breeds that always form herds?
Many ungulate species, like cattle and deer, naturally form herds.
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Nov 08, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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