Blind Wise Man Minute

There once was an old blind wise man living in a tiny village. He amazed people with his wise answers to any question asked of him. He never failed to answer correctly.
One day a young boy figured out how he could outsmart the wise old man. He approached the blind man and asked his question.
He said, "Old man, in my hand is a bird. Is it alive or dead?" The old man was quiet.
The boy asked again, "Old man, in my hand is a bird. Is it alive or dead?" Still, the old man said nothing.
The boy asked for the third time, "Old man, in my hand is a bird. Is it alive or dead?" The old man finally answered.
He said, "The bird's life is yours to give or take. If I say it is alive, you will crush it and it will be dead. If I say it is dead, then you will open your hands and let it fly away."