Bird Mite
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus sylviarum / Dermanyssus gallinae
Order & Family: Order: Mesostigmata, Family: Macronyssidae / Dermanyssidae
Size: 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm (barely visible to the naked eye as moving specks)
Natural Habitat
Typically found in bird nests, poultry houses, or near human dwellings where birds nest in eaves or chimneys.
Diet & Feeding
Blood of host birds (pigeons, starlings, sparrows, or poultry); may bite humans if the primary bird host is gone.
Behavior Patterns
Highly mobile and nocturnal; they leave the nest to find a host, feed, and then return to the nest. Rapid reproduction cycles in warm weather.
Risks & Benefits
No ecological benefits to humans. Risks include skin irritation, intense itching (dermatitis), and psychological distress from infestations. They do not transmit diseases to humans but can be a major pest.
Identified on: 12/31/2025