This male flew down to ground and began walking through the grass, stopping every few feet to give his loud o-ka-ree call, which always looks so very physical, as the wings spread, the red epaulets stand out, and the bill is opened to maximum width!

It was rather interesting, if not also a bit horrifying, to watch two male red-winged blackbirds having a territorial dispute. I thought for sure murder was on the books. One attacked the other when he flew too close to what was no doubt a chosen territory. Grappling with each other, they fell through the cattails, eventually ending up in the pond, one upside down, wings spread, the other on top, with a firm grasp on the upside down guy's bill. He was pushing the hapless bird down into the water, but then, suddenly, it was over, and both flew off, none the worse for wear.