Bird Lice
Scientific Name: Phthiraptera (Suborder Amblycera or Ischnocera)
Order & Family: Order: Phthiraptera; Families vary (e.g., Menoponidae, Philopteridae)
Size: 0.5 mm to 10 mm, though most are between 1 mm and 3 mm.
Natural Habitat
Found on the skin or between the feathers of many species of birds.
Diet & Feeding
Depending on the suborder, they feed on feathers, skin fragments, or blood/fluids from the host bird.
Behavior Patterns
They are permanent ectoparasites that complete their entire life cycle on the host, moving between hosts through direct contact.
Risks & Benefits
They cause irritation, feather damage, and stress to birds; while they may occasionally crawl on humans, they cannot survive long or reproduce on human hosts.
Identified on: 12/31/2025