Odd story, Spotted flycatcher tameness

[Alexei TND]

Had a odd story i thought i might share, ill post the 2-3 Photos relative to it when i get back home:

A week or so ago i was on my way to work as usual (Zug, Switzerland), but just before reaching the back entrance i noticed a small beige bird sitting in the middle of the road.
Well first thing i did was snap a shot expecting it to fly away, however it just sat there tweeting from time to time. I decided to try and get a littl bit closer, but when i was around 1 meter from it i started to be confused as to why it didnt fly away yet. I thought maybe it was injured and sick.
Well i put my hand right next top it and the little feller just jumped right onto my finger and stayed there, even when i stood up and walked a few steps he just sat there looking around beningly and chirping. Well i figured it might have been hit and was dazed or so so i put it into some bushes and went to work hoping for the best.
Fast forward 3 hours and i go out for my Lunch break, i look i the bushes to see if it was still there and it was.
Slowly but surely i was starting to get worried it might have broken a wing and cant fly, put my hand close to it again and once again it jumped onto my finger. After a minute or so to my great suprise and relief it flew off.

Now im no expert in bird behavior, anatomy and health. But the fact that it flew away means it was healthy right?
Then why the complete lack of natural fear for humans? Is it possible its an escaped tamed bird?
After some research i identified it as a spotted flycatcher. But till today im clueless as to why it acted that way.

[Nighthound]

That is very odd. It could be an escaped aviary bird that had been hand raised. Not the typical behavior of a bird fledged in the wild. Did it appear to very young?

Thanks for sharing this very interesting encounter.

[scrumpy]

Your's is an interesting story. I had a similar experience whilst on holiday in Barnstaple, North Devon, a week ago.
Passing a small shrubbery in the town centre a baby robin jumped out landing at my feet. Getting down to its level I told it (as you do) it wouldn't live very long if if it did silly things like that, and gently guided it back to the shrubs. It immediately returned, stopping at my shoes. I saw neither parent birds or other chicks, so why it was there was a mystery. I took a quick shot, shooed it into the shrubbery a quickly walked away.

[BradM]

If the feathers appeared to be fluffed in either of these birds, as the bird was cold it is quite probable the bird was deathly ill with salmonellis, a salmonella bacterial infection which is always terminal.

It is spread (usually) be flocking birds feces. This infection can be transmitted like most other salmonella bacterial infections directly to humans and can also cause serious to deadly health issues to people and pets.

Do not ever touch a seemingly tame bird, a symptom of this infection, without some kind of protection. It is no fun to get salmonella poisoning or to take it home to your children, pets or family members.

[Alexei TND]

The bird appeared in perfect health. Feathers smooth, non lethargic behavior and active almos cheers swivelling of head with chriping. I cleaned my hand throroughly in any case as i didnt want to risk chances of infection. Im pretty sure it was dazed by hitting a window as a few friends told me of similar behaviour after small birds hit their window and were acting oddly for a few minutes before recovering and flying off again.

[canonloader]

Brad, the only way you get salmonella poisoning is through the mouth. If you put your hands in your mouth or the bird in your mouth, then you will get it. If you handle the bird, then wash your hands, you can't get it. I think if a baby bird hopped up to me and was doing the feed me thing, I'd have to help it. :)

[scrumpy]

Brad - the robin, although its feathers looked a little fluffed-up was, I reckon, in perfect health and certainly not lethargic.

...oh, and all baby robins have that really grumpy expression :D

[Nighthound]

Brad offers very wise advice when handling wild animals in situations like this. Handling turtles for example is a significant risk for salmonella infection. Pathogens of this type can be washed off yes, but surface transfer en route to washing can leave the bacteria in places that can infect others or even yourself later on. For this reason I keep latex or painters gloves in my truck if the need arises to help an animal in need.

Being "fluffed up" in itself isn't an indication of sickness. It could the bird is simply trying to regulate body temp, nervous or even content. Our birds at home will sometimes perch fluffed when they are perfectly happy and healthy.

[canonloader]

I understand the disease pretty good. Grew up on a farm. I'm 63 in a couple weeks. Never had salmonella, never had much of anything besides measels and mumps and never much been one to wash my hands for anything short of a complete engine rebuild. Go figure. Maybe stomach acid gets it?

I am also a believer in the theory that if you stay forever clean, your going to have a weak immune system. On the other hand, I don't go out of my way to try and catch things either.

[Nighthound]

Didn't mean for this to be in any way critical of your comment just expanding on the subject a bit. I'm not promoting hyper sanitation, just caution in the wild. I completely agree that our immune systems need exercise but antibiotic overuse and the resulting "dura" bugs have me a bit more vigilant these days.

[canonloader]

Yes, I don't go looking for it, but 3 billion people in China and India and who knows how many in Africa never wash their hands and they use cow flaps for cooking fuel and don't have anti-biotics. If salmonella were so prevalent and deadly, I would expect the world to be a lot less crowded right now. Since it still looks like a dandylion head gone to seed, I'm just not going to worry about it. ;)