Bird Mite
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus sylviarum / Dermanyssus gallinae
Order & Family: Order: Mesostigmata, Family: Macronyssidae or Dermanyssidae
Size: 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm (very small, appears as a tiny moving speck)
Natural Habitat
Found in bird nests (including eaves, attics, and window sills) and can enter homes when the bird hosts leave.
Diet & Feeding
Blood of avian hosts (birds); they may bite humans if their primary host is unavailable.
Behavior Patterns
Very active during the night; they crawl rapidly in search of a host. Without a bird host, they usually die within a few weeks.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: Can cause intense itching and skin irritation (dermatitis) in humans through bites. Benefits: None to humans; they are considered household pests and parasites.
Identified on: 1/10/2026