Bird Mite
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus sylviarum/Dermanyssus gallinae
Order & Family: Order: Mesostigmata; Family: Macronyssidae/Dermanyssidae
Size: Minute, approximately 0.5 to 1.0 mm (hardly visible to the naked eye without movement).
Natural Habitat
Found in bird nests (pigeons, starlings, sparrows) and poultry houses; they may enter homes through vents or windows if a nest is nearby.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate blood-feeders, primarily targeting birds but will bite humans and other mammals if their primary host is unavailable.
Behavior Patterns
Highly active and mobile; they often migrate indoors in large numbers after young birds leave a nest. They are most active at night.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching, skin irritation, and dermatitis in humans from bites. While they cannot survive long or reproduce on human blood, they are significant nuisance pests. They offer no ecological benefits in human environments.
Identified on: 2/18/2026