Bird lice

Natural Habitat

Found on the skin or between the feathers of many host bird species globally

Diet & Feeding

Strictly parasitic; most species feed on feathers, down, and skin debris

Behavior Patterns

They spend their entire life cycle on the host, moving by crawling and attaching to shafts with specialized mandibles

Risks & Benefits

Benefits the ecosystem as a natural population control for birds; Risks include irritation and feather damage for avian hosts, but they generally cannot survive on humans

Identified on: 2/6/2026