Circling birds are birds, often seagulls, crows or vultures, flying above an object of interest. In fictional settings these birds are often carrion birds and used to indicate a dying person or creature, a corpse or skeletal remains, or the location of a recent battle or massacre. Birds flying over the ocean may also indicate the presence of a nearby school of fish. Seeing such flying birds from a distance is often a clue as to where to look (or where to avoid).