Bird Mite (or North American Fowl Mite)
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus sylviarum
Order & Family: Order: Mesostigmata; Family: Macronyssidae
Size: 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm (extremely small, resembling pepper flakes)
Natural Habitat
Commonly found in bird nests, poultry houses, and inside homes near window sills or vents if nests are nearby.
Diet & Feeding
Blood-feeding parasites that primarily target birds but will bite humans if their host is unavailable.
Behavior Patterns
They are highly active and mobile; they often migrate into human living spaces when young birds leave the nest or the host dies.
Risks & Benefits
Potential risk of skin irritation and dermatitis in humans; they do not live on humans permanently but can cause itchy bites.
Identified on: 1/1/2026