Bird Mite
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus sylviarum or Dermanyssus gallinae
Order & Family: Order Mesostigmata, Family Macronyssidae or Dermanyssidae
Size: Approximately 0.5 to 1.0 mm (hardly visible to the naked eye, appearing as moving specks).
Natural Habitat
Typically found in bird nests (including eaves, attics, and window sills) or on domestic poultry; they may enter homes when birds leave the nest.
Diet & Feeding
Strictly hematophagous (blood-feeders), primarily feeding on birds but will bite humans if their primary host is unavailable.
Behavior Patterns
They are highly active and mobile, often searching for new hosts once a bird brood has fledged. They are most active at night and tend to aggregate in cracks and crevices near nesting sites.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching, skin irritation, and dermatitis due to bites. They do not typically live or reproduce on humans but can cause significant discomfort and stress. There are no known ecological benefits to humans.
Identified on: 1/11/2026