Bird Mite (General Identification)

Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus sylviarum / Dermanyssus gallinae

Order & Family: Mesostigmata: Macronyssidae / Dermanyssidae

Size: 0.7 mm to 1 mm (extremely small, often appearing as tiny moving specks)

Commonly found in bird nests, poultry houses, and occasionally in residential homes if host birds are nesting nearby.

Blood from avian hosts (birds); they may bite humans if the primary bird host is unavailable.

They are highly mobile, photophobic, and often crawl from abandoned nests into buildings through vents or windows seeking a new host.

Can cause intense itching and dermatitis in humans; they do not transmit diseases to humans but are considered a nuisance pest.

Identified on: 12/31/2025