Bird Mite
Scientific Name: Ornithonyssus sylviarum
Order & Family: Order: Mesostigmata, Family: Macronyssidae
Size: 0.5 to 1.0 mm (hardly visible to the naked eye, appearing like moving specs of dust)
Natural Habitat
Typically found on domestic and wild birds and their nests; may migrate into homes when bird hosts leave the nest.
Diet & Feeding
Obligate blood-feeders; they primarily feed on the blood of birds but will bite humans and other mammals if their primary host is unavailable.
Behavior Patterns
They are highly active, semi-permanent parasites that spend most of their life cycle on the host. They can survive for several weeks without a meal in search of a new host.
Risks & Benefits
They do not transmit diseases to humans but their bites cause intense itching, skin irritation, and dermatitis. They provide no ecosystem benefits to humans and are considered domestic pests.
Identified on: 1/4/2026