Bird Mite

Natural Habitat

Found in bird nests (sparrows, pigeons, starlings), chicken coops, and occasionally indoors near windows or vents when hosts migrate.

Diet & Feeding

Parasitic blood-feeders. Primarily feed on the blood of birds but will bite humans and pets if their avian hosts are unavailable.

Behavior Patterns

They are most active at night or in high humidity. They are highly mobile and tend to wander away from abandoned nests in search of a new host, often entering human dwellings.

Risks & Benefits

They cause intense itching, irritation, and small red welts on humans. While they cannot complete their life cycle on human blood, they can be a significant nuisance and source of skin dermatitis. They do not provide ecosystem benefits in a domestic context.

Identified on: 1/2/2026