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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Nov 08, 2023
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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Oct 19, 2023
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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Oct 19, 2023
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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Nov 08, 2023
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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Nov 08, 2023
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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