AKIPRESS.COM - A bald Afghan starling was spotted on Chui Avenue in Bishkek.

Eyewitnesses noted that the bird was hopping on the asphalt and asking for food while having a bald, featherless head, which raised concerns about its well-being.

Biologist Irina Stezhko explained to Turmush that the bird's behavior indicates that it is healthy and normal. She suggested that the feathers on the bird's head may have been lost during a fight with other starlings or with a small predator such as an owl.

The Afghan starling is originally from South Asia and first appeared in Kyrgyzstan during the 1960s, settling in the inner Tien Shan and Issyk-Kul. While these birds play a role in killing locusts on pastures near farms, they can harm orchards and vineyards after hatching. The Afghan starling is known for its adaptability to captivity and can learn to pronounce a few words, but it is also known for its intrusiveness and fussiness.