Bird Mite

Natural Habitat

Found in bird nests, poultry houses, and occasionally inside homes near windows or vents where birds nest.

Diet & Feeding

Blood of avian hosts (birds); they may bite humans if their bird host leaves the nest, but they cannot survive or reproduce on human blood.

Behavior Patterns

Night active; they leave the host to hide in cracks and crevices between feedings. They are highly mobile and search for new hosts when bird fledglings leave the nest.

Risks & Benefits

Causes intense itching and skin irritation (dermatitis) in humans. They do not transmit diseases to humans but are major pests for poultry and can cause anemia or death in birds.

Identified on: 3/5/2026