I'm kinda new to bird watching, so maybe this is typical, but I'd love to have it explained to me. There was what I believe to have been a male house sparrow on the porch outside my window, there was another sparrow very close behind him and possible another right there as well. The male was chirping loudly in what seemed like it would be an alarm call while holding his wings partially out from his body - not stretched out, but kinda like red winged blackbirds do when they want to show off those red shoulders. It seemed like he was sticking his shoulders out while still keeping his wings fairly close to his body. At the same time I was hearing another sound that sounded almost like the rattle of a snake! I can't figure out how the bird could have been making both noises at the same time unless the rattle was somehow coming from his wings. It lasted for a few seconds and then he flew off and the noise stopped. What was that all about? PS There was seed on the ground that had fallen from the feeder.
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