What is usually the cause of a bunch of bird feathers on the ground?

Question

There is no blood or any other body part nearby. There are feathers of all shapes and sizes including downy ones. Was there a fight with another bird?

Answer 1

It could have been a fight or it could just be the bird was molting.  Which is a shedding of feathers for new ones to come through.

Answer 2

Possibly or it could have been just regular molting.

Answer 3

maybe or it it just pulling them out itself

Answer 4

Birds shed so that's probably what happened.

Answer 5

A bunch of bird feathers on the ground indicates a bird was killed and eaten there.  I see this several times a week while out working.

Edit: why the thumbs down..bird do NOT molt all their feathers at once.

Answer 6

I agree with Birdgirl. Why the thumbs down? I've lost chickens to things that leave nothing but a pile of feathers. Moulting birds only leave their feathers in a pile if they are in a cage. Sudden appearance of a pile of feathers on the ground has to be marking a short and fatal battle.