Birds in a tree

I can't remember the name of these things, but they usually fly in flocks, or whatever you call a group of birds, and you'll find them in cow pastures and other strange places. Lois Anne called me outside yesterday and pointed to a point way up in one of our pine trees where she said four of the critters flew to take up temporary residence.

They stayed for awhile and then departed with a flapping of wings to a neighbor's front yard where they were joined by another dozen or so and the group meandered about the neighborhood picking at stuff in the grass. Then they left.

Why they chose to perch in our tree I do not know. Such a thing has never happened before.