Bird Mite
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Northern Fowl Mite) or Dermanyssus gallinae (Red Poultry Mite)
Order & Family: Order: Mesostigmata; Family: Macronyssidae or Dermanyssidae
Size: Extremely small, approximately 0.5 to 1.0 mm (visible to the naked eye as moving specks).
Natural Habitat
Found in bird nests, poultry houses, and occasionally inside buildings where birds (like pigeons or starlings) nest in eaves or vents.
Diet & Feeding
Strictly hematophagous; they feed on the blood of various bird species, but will bite humans and other mammals if their primary bird hosts are absent.
Behavior Patterns
They are highly mobile and nocturnal feeders. When bird hosts leave the nest (e.g., fledging), mites migrate in large numbers into living spaces through windows and vents to find a new food source.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include intense itching, skin irritation, and dermatitis in humans from bites. They do not typically survive long on human blood alone, but can cause significant discomfort. They offer no known benefits to the ecosystem.
Identified on: 1/6/2026