Starling Murmuration Simulator
Watch thousands of virtual starlings flock in mesmerizing patterns. An interactive boids simulation using separation, alignment, and cohesion — the same emergent behavior rules that produce nature's most spectacular aerial displays.
0 FPS | 0 agents
Scroll to zoom | Move mouse to attract | Click to scatter
Presets
Controls
Avoid crowding neighbors
Match neighbor heading
Move toward group center
How far each agent can see
About the Algorithm
This simulation implements Craig Reynolds' boids algorithm (1986), which models flocking behavior using three simple rules applied to each individual agent:
- Separation— steer away from neighbors that are too close
- Alignment— match the average velocity of nearby neighbors
- Cohesion— move toward the average position of nearby neighbors
Each mode applies these rules to different data domains — from starling flocks to satellite orbits, earthquake waves, and workforce migration. Simple local rules generate complex, emergent global patterns.