Bird Lice (Chewing Lice)

Scientific Name: Order Phthiraptera (Suborder Ischnocera or Amblycera)

Order & Family: Order Phthiraptera; various families depending on species (e.g., Philopteridae, Menoponidae)

Size: 0.5 mm to 10 mm (typically around 2-3 mm)

Bird Lice (Chewing Lice)

Natural Habitat

Found exclusively on the bodies of birds, specifically within feathers; may enter homes if birds nest in eaves or chimneys.

Diet & Feeding

Scavengers that feed on skin fragments, feather parts, blood, and skin secretions.

Behavior Patterns

They are permanent ectoparasites and cannot survive long off the host. They move by crawling through feathers and glue their eggs (nits) to feather shafts.

Risks & Benefits

Generally not a health risk to humans as they are host-specific and cannot reproduce on human blood. They can cause irritation, feather damage, and stress to the host birds.

Identified on: 4/3/2026