Bird Louse / Chewing Louse

Found on the skin and among the feathers of birds; occasionally found on mammals. They are highly host-specific.

Feed on feathers, hair, skin scales, and occasionally blood if the skin is broken.

Wingless and flattened insects that spend their entire life cycle on a host. They attach their eggs (nits) to feathers or hair.

Generally not harmful to humans as they cannot survive off their specific avian or mammalian hosts. They represent a nuisance to the host and can cause irritation or feather loss, but lack ecological benefits to humans.