This female Red-winged Blackbird was obviously drawing attention to herself. Sitting near the top of a cypress tree, swaying in the wind, her conspicuous behavior included raising her tail feathers and rapidly fluttering her wings, which she repeated over and over. In the distance, a male could be heard calling. My first thought was that she was trying to attract or communicate with a mate, but another thought might be a response to a predator within her nesting territory.
“I’m not strange, weird, off, nor crazy, my reality is just different from yours.” ~Lewis Carroll
walking on a country road 
That’s how our birds act when they want something from us. She looks like an adult, but that’s how a fledgling would act trying to get mama to feed her.
Very true! I’ll have to add that to my list of possibilities.
I really enjoyed the video, thanks for sharing that!
Thanks, Sam. I thought she was quite entertaining.
I’ve read that females are quite promiscuous with 1/4 to 1/2 nestlings sired by other males. The raised tail looks like an invitation to me!
Very true, Eliza. 🙂
I’d guess she’s attracting attention away from the nest?
That is a possibility since the tree she was in was above a marshy area where a nest could have been hidden.
Interesting and the wing fluttering and tail raising was so intense in the video! I wonder if there is a nearby predator and this female is agitated over that? I keep seeing a Cooper’s Hawk hanging around a big Maple tree across from my house. I don’t have to see that hawk to know it is there as a single Blue Jay will make such loud shrieking noises to alert others of the hawk’s presence and that Blue Jay keeps it up the entire time the hawk is sitting there, alerting the other about the hawk. It is amazing to see this happen as the Blue Jay hops from branch to branch on a different tree as well as flying back and forth. The Sparrows are the first ones to fly away, usually to my backyard.
Blue Jays certainly know how to sound the warning. There’s nothing like a disturbed Blue Jay. Sounds like you have some smart Sparrows.
Great observations about what might be going on here! She sure is being showy. Love the video!
Thanks! Sometimes nature keeps you wondering.