This time of year, the Red-winged Blackbirds put on quite a display. At Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge in Montana, all along the edge of the pond, perched on the tips of cattails, the male Red-winged Blackbirds call out to potential mates, or perhaps to announce territorial boundaries to rivals. The mating call is a melodic warble. And, when a rival or potential mate comes into view, his visual display goes into high gear. His red and gold epaulets suddenly flare and his wings flap and he rotates on the tip of the cattail, facing what he perceives is his rival.