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 in length; often look like moving specks of dust.
Natural Habitat
Found near bird nests, poultry houses, and inside homes if a host bird nest is on or near the building (e.g., in eaves or vents).
Diet & Feeding
Blood-feeding parasites that primarily feed on various types of birds, but will bite humans if their primary host is removed.
Behavior Patterns
They are highly mobile and active during the day or night depending on the species. They migrate from abandoned bird nests into human living spaces through cracks and vents.
Risks & Benefits
Do not transmit diseases to humans but cause intense itching, skin irritation, and dermatitis. They are considered pests as they cannot survive or reproduce on human blood alone, but can cause significant discomfort.
Identified on: 12/28/2025