Bird Mite

Natural Habitat

Nests of wild birds or poultry, often migrating into residential buildings if the host is gone.

Diet & Feeding

Hematophagous (feeds on host blood), primarily from birds but will bite humans if birds are unavailable.

Behavior Patterns

Active day and night; highly mobile crawlers that can travel long distances from empty nests to find a new host.

Risks & Benefits

Causes intense itching, irritation, and dermatitis in humans. They cannot complete their life cycle on human blood but are a significant nuisance.

Identified on: 1/1/2026