Bird Mite
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus sylviarum or Dermanyssus gallinae
Order & Family: Order Mesostigmata, Family Macronyssidae or Dermanyssidae
Size: Extremely small, approx. 0.5 to 1.0 mm (barely visible to the naked eye until they have fed).
Natural Habitat
Typically found in bird nests (pigeons, starlings, sparrows) or on poultry; they may enter homes when birds leave the nest.
Diet & Feeding
Parasitic blood-feeders. They primarily feed on the blood of birds but will bite humans and pets if their bird hosts are unavailable.
Behavior Patterns
They are highly mobile and nocturnal. They breed rapidly in nesting material and search for new hosts once the bird fledglings leave the nest.
Risks & Benefits
They cause intense itching, skin irritation, and dermatitis in humans (mite dermatitis). They do not live or reproduce on humans but can be a major indoor nuisance. They provide no ecological benefit in a domestic setting.
Identified on: 4/10/2026