Bird Mite
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus sylviarum / Dermanyssus gallinae
Order & Family: Order Mesostigmata, Family Macronyssidae or Dermanyssidae
Size: 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm (extremely small, often appearing as moving specks of dust)
Natural Habitat
Found in bird nests (sparrows, starlings, pigeons) and on poultry. They enter homes through cracks, vents, or windows when bird hosts 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
Nymphs and adults are highly active and mobile. They are primarily nocturnal and can survive for several weeks without a blood meal while searching for a new host.
Risks & Benefits
They cause intense itching, irritation, and small red welts on humans. While they cannot complete their life cycle on human blood, they can cause significant skin irritation and distress. They do not transmit diseases to humans.
Identified on: 1/14/2026