Why does a bird lose its neck feathers?

There could be several reasons for the loss of neck feathers.

A bird can lose its neck feathers through natural moulting. Most birds lose some feathers over a period of two months in which new feathers emerge. The bird might also pull out its own feathers during the moulting period.

A bird might have a skin disease, such as a fungal infection like ringworm. 

A bird might have a parasite infestation, such as fleas and mites, that makes the neck itch. When the bird scratches, the feathers come out.

Sometimes, a bird is stressed and it sheds feathers when it is anxious. 

The bird in the photographs is a Bali Starling (Leucopsar rothschildi). It is native to the island of Bali in Indonesia. 

Location of photographs: Paris Zoo, France

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM