Bird Mite
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus sylviarum or Dermanyssus gallinae
Order & Family: Order: Mesostigmata; Family: Macronyssidae or Dermanyssidae
Size: Approximately 0.5 to 1.0 mm (hardly visible to the naked eye; appearing as tiny moving specks)
Natural Habitat
Found in wild and domestic bird nests, poultry farms, and sometimes indoors when bird hosts leave the nest or are removed.
Diet & Feeding
Blood of birds (primary hosts); they may bite humans if their primary host is unavailable, though they cannot survive on human blood alone.
Behavior Patterns
They are highly mobile, nocturnal, and seek warm-blooded hosts. Typically enter homes when bird nests on windowsills, eaves, or vents are abandoned.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Can cause intense itching, skin irritation, and dermatitis in humans. Benefit: No ecological benefit to humans; considered a nuisance and a pest to poultry industries.
Identified on: 3/25/2026