Bird Mite (or possibly Rodent Mite)
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus spp. (e.g., O. sylviarum or O. bursa)
Order & Family: Order: Mesostigmata, Family: Macronyssidae
Size: extremely small, typically less than 1 mm (visible to the naked eye as tiny moving specks).
Natural Habitat
Bird nests (pigeons, starlings, sparrows, chickens), poultry houses, and occasionally inside homes near nesting sites (e.g., attics, window ledges).
Diet & Feeding
Hematophagous (blood-feeding); they primarily feed on the blood of birds but will bite humans if their primary host is absent.
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal or active in low light; they migrate from abandoned bird nests looking for new hosts. They move quickly for their size and are often found crawling on walls, ceilings, and bedding.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Their bites cause intense itching, skin irritation, and rashes in humans (acariasis). While they are a nuisance, they generally do not transmit diseases to humans and cannot survive long-term or reproduce on human blood.
Identified on: 2/18/2026