Northern mockingbird

There are various theories about why mockingbirds flash their wings - to startle insects, to ward off predators, to attract a mate. So far, there is no consensus on why they do this. I've seen both adult and juvenile birds performing this behavior, both when other mockingbirds are around and when they are alone. My latest observations of this behavior now persuade me that it is a method of scaring up insects. In several instances, the birds flashed their wings and were soon eating a tasty (for them) morsel.