"thousands of birds" vs "thousand birds"

Question

"thousands of birds" vs "thousand birds"

Both 'thousands of birds' and 'thousand birds' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Thousands of birds' is used when referring to a large number of birds, while 'thousand birds' is used when referring to a specific quantity of one thousand birds.

Last Updated: March 28, 2024

This phrase is used to indicate a vast quantity of birds, typically more than a thousand.

Examples:

Thousands of birds flew overhead during the migration.
The sanctuary is home to thousands of birds of different species.
We could hear the chirping of thousands of birds in the forest.
The beach was covered with thousands of birds resting in the sun.
The sky was filled with thousands of birds returning to their nests.

Alternatives:

Numerous birds
A large number of birds
Countless birds
An abundance of birds
Multitudes of birds

This phrase is used when referring to a precise number of birds, specifically one thousand.

Examples:

I saw a flock of a thousand birds flying in formation.
The zoo has an exhibit with a thousand birds from around the world.
The ornithologist counted exactly a thousand birds in the area.
The conservationists released a thousand birds back into the wild.
The festival released a thousand birds as a symbol of peace.

Alternatives:

One thousand birds
A total of one thousand birds
Exactly one thousand birds
A single thousand birds
A grand total of one thousand birds

Answer 1

thousands of birds

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to a large number of birds.

Answer 2

thousand birds

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to a specific quantity of one thousand birds.

"thousands of birds" vs "thousand birds"

thousands of birds

thousand birds

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