Bird Mite
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus sylviarum
Order & Family: Order: Mesostigmata, Family: Macronyssidae
Size: 0.5 mm to 1 mm (extremely small, barely visible to the naked eye)
Natural Habitat
Typically found in bird nests (sparrows, pigeons, starlings). When birds leave, they migrate into homes through vents, windows, and cracks.
Diet & Feeding
The primary diet is bird blood, but they will bite humans and pets if their avian hosts are unavailable.
Behavior Patterns
Active year-round but most prevalent in late spring/early summer. They are highly mobile, searching for new hosts once a bird nest is abandoned. They cannot survive indefinitely or reproduce on human blood alone.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching, skin irritation, and potential secondary infections from scratching. They are considered household pests and do not provide ecological benefits in a domestic setting.
Identified on: 1/1/2026