It would help a great deal to know what part of the world the feathers come from.
If it was in the US, the chances are good -- but not certain -- that it was some kind of oriole.
Feathers
Thunderbird
All of them.
Bird feathers.
Where did you see it? Like, area in the world or state. It was at my bird feeder in my yard In the outskirts of Hillsdale Mi. in the country.
The Cedar Waxwing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedar_Waxwing
The kiwi bird is a unique bird that has hair-like feathers on its body.
Down comes from young chicks.
The American Coot
Orioles, Tanagers, and Orange Bishops are mostly orange. Some hummingbirds are also a rusty orange/brown.
Disease - birds do not normally loose their feathers. When they change them it is called moult.Moulting is a process (like shedding in mammals) done regularly by birds, to replace old feathers with new, healthy feathers. This is normal. When a bird loses many feathers at once, it is usually due to the bird plucking out its own feathers OR a condition called French Moult, for which there is no cure.All birds may or may not lose their feathers. It is only when this happens to them and or they die.
A snowy owl has fluffy white feathers :)