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stunned towhee?



I am hoping that one of you might be able to shed some light on a
puzzling thing. THis morning while driving down Erwin Road in Durham I
saw a male eastern towhee sitting on the edge of the road. Cars would
zoom by and ruffle its feathers, but it would not move. Since it was
dangerously close to the road I ran out and discovered that it was
unbudgable. I approached it from the back and caught it in my hands.
At this it put up a great deal of fuss and flapped its wings (until I
cupped them) so vigorously that I can hardly believe they were broken.
Its legs also seemed ok. I eventually took it to the Animal Shelter in
Chapel Hill and they now have it. it seemed perfectly alert and its
eyes were open. The lady there (Bonnie) speculated that it may have
been knocked down and stunned. Does anyone have any explanations for
this odd behaviour? I once experienced the same with a brown creeper,
and remember hearing something about birds going into a stupor. Any
thoughts?

Shantanu Phukan
Chapel Hill