Bird Mite
Scientific Name: Dermanyssus gallinae / Ornithonyssus sylviarum
Order & Family: Mesostigmata: Dermanyssidae or Macronyssidae
Size: 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm (barely visible to the naked eye, appearing as moving specks).
Natural Habitat
Bird nests, poultry houses, and occasionally residential buildings after birds (like pigeons or starlings) leave their nests near windows or vents.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate blood-feeders; they primarily feed on the blood of birds but will bite humans if their primary host is unavailable.
Behavior Patterns
Nymphs and adults are highly mobile and active at night. They often migrate in large numbers into living spaces when bird hosts abandon a nest.
Risks & Benefits
Risks include itchy, red skin irritations and dermatitis in humans. They do not typically survive or reproduce on human blood alone, but can cause significant discomfort and stress. They offer no ecological benefits to humans.
Identified on: 3/12/2026