This Red-winged Blackbird was lifting his wings and fanning out his tail every time he called. I assumed he was trying to get a date, but apparently this is a territorial display to scare off other males. Females choose mates as much for their land as their looks, so laying claim to the good turf is important. He was certainly giving it his all!
(Info courtesy of the Cornell Ornithology Lab)
Heheee... interesting info and nice shot. i once read or heard somewhere that what we call the nice chirp of the birdies in the spring, in their world would be in fact menacing cries towards competing males, during mating season and not only. I don't know if that's a fact. But I keep thinking of it whenever I see a little fluffy birdie that in fact, probably wants to be menacing and impressive to its fellows. You know, like a little child playing dinosaur and roaring and being frightful and the auntie calling them cute. :D
