I have to think it was a toy or something, a bird can't pluck his own head. How about a bath or mist as teils are dust birds. It has been years since I last had a teil so I can't remember to much.

i just got home from work and gave artemis a look over. the feather missing ARE right around his ear. i double checked his poops and they are fine. he seems just as feisty as always and my husband said he was playing normally tonight. i did a lot of searching tonight and couldn't find much info on bald spots.

also, the photo does make it look worse than it does in person. it doesn't look normal, but it doesn't look like a big hole either. i am wondering if he might have rubbed a toy wrong somehow...

i will keep you all posted. THANK YOU SO MUCH for your concern and help, i really appreciate it.

yeah, exactly! i might try a bath tomorrow, he isn't too much into them so he doesn't get them that often.

Glad to hear that he is doing okay, Emily and that it's not as big as it looks; it looks big. I couldn't find much on bald spots either. Hopefully he did just somehow rub it off and he's fine.

Have you tried misting him with a water bottle? When I worked at the pet store the Cockatiels loved being misted. They would act all put out for the first few seconds and then when I stopped they would stretch out their wings and press up against the bars for more.

I'm glad to hear that he's acting and apparently feeling fine, Emily. Keep us posted, ok?

Sorry I missed this last night, but I see you got a lot of support and good advice. I'm anxious to hear how he's doing this morning.

No, it cannot be plucking, they cannot reach their heads with their beaks (even severe chronic pluckers have a full head of feathers).

I doesn't look like anything that would come from disease... it usually starts on the top of the head or around the beak (if it was scaley face mites).

It looks like he either got pecked by another bird or had some kind of trauma that rubbed the feathers off. The skin looks good, no redness, no inflammation, no scaling, no sign of infection, etc.

I would say wait and see. If you see some pins coming out in the next couple of days, it was just one of those fluky things that happen. If no pins are coming out or he develops any other skin symptoms or the patch grows, take him to the vet.

i hope you catch what ever it is in the butt

that bald spot to me looks like it is over the ear.. if thatss any help.. i may be wrong... been on line searching.... it does show a little round area. just a n idea...

lol i never know when i write in this box if it is the 5 or 6 page. sorry all. it takes forever for me to get notification so i just come on and do research if i can and type not realizing that ther is already many pages to this..... but do hope you catch what ever it is in butt. quickly.;..

Wow Emily sorry I missed this last night as well. Glad everyone was here for you. I sure hope little Artemis is doing well.