Bird Mite
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus sylviarum / Dermanyssus gallinae
Order & Family: Order: Mesostigmata; Family: Macronyssidae / Dermanyssidae
Size: 0.5 mm to 1 mm (barely visible to the naked eye as moving specks).
Natural Habitat
Nests of wild birds (pigeons, starlings, sparrows) or poultry houses, often migrating into homes when birds leave the nest.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate blood feeders, primarily feeding on the blood of birds but will bite humans and other mammals if their primary host is unavailable.
Behavior Patterns
They are semi-transparent until they feed, after which they appear red or black. They are highly mobile and tend to aggregate in areas where humans rest, such as beds or couches, if birds are nesting in eaves or attics nearby.
Risks & Benefits
They do not transmit diseases to humans but cause intense itching, skin irritation, and dermatitis through their bites. In livestock/poultry, they can cause anemia and death. They provide no ecosystem benefits in human environments.
Identified on: 4/14/2026