In order to ward off predators and distract them from the location of their young, stilts (among many other shorebirds such as Killdeer, plovers, and american avocets) display a behavior that draws attention of a possible predator away by flapping their wings on the ground.  This display resembles a weak or sick bird, that would be easier prey for the predator catch.  (Rinus Baak/USFWS)
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/54430347@N04">Pacific Southwest Region USFWS</a> from Sacramento, US
2006-06-24 07:39
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usfws_pacificsw/6796573671/">Black-necked stilt exhibiting a "broken wing" display</a>