Bird Mite
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus sylviarum or Dermanyssus gallinae
Order & Family: Order Mesostigmata, Family Macronyssidae or Dermanyssidae
Size: 0.5mm to 1mm (barely visible to the naked eye, appearing as moving specks)
Natural Habitat
Bird nests (pigeons, starlings, sparrows) or poultry houses; they enter homes through vents or windows when birds leave the nest.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate blood-feeders. They primarily feed on the blood of birds but will bite humans and pets if their avian host is unavailable.
Behavior Patterns
They are highly active and reproduce rapidly. When bird hosts leave a nest, mites migrate in search of a new meal, often congregating around windows, ceilings, and bedding.
Risks & Benefits
Risk: Causes intense itching, skin irritation, and dermatitis in humans. They cannot survive long or reproduce on human blood, but infestations are distressing. Benefit: None to humans; part of the natural parasite ecosystem for birds.
Identified on: 3/3/2026