Bird Lice

Size:

Varies depending on species; usually 1/8-inch or smaller in size.

Color:

Depending on the species, the color varies from tan to brown to creamy white.

Behavior:

A number of species of lice infest various types of birds. The picture represented here is only one species. On farms, lice that infect poultry are known to sometimes become a problem in barns, and they can bite humans who work with the birds. More commonly in homes and commercial buildings, lice that infest pest birds, such as pigeons and sparrows, may find their way into living spaces of homes. Although such lice are incapable of living off a human host, they have reportedly bitten people in a few, rare cases. Usually, one or more specimens are discovered on a windowsill, on the floor, or possibly on a desk or table where they have exited the ceiling or wall and have dropped to die. Generally, such cases result from birds nesting in the attic, walls or on the outside edge of the building roof. Lice typically leave the bird’s nest and wander after the host birds have left. Occasionally, however, bird activity within a commercial building (e.g., a church bell tower) that has been allowed to persist can create an infestation of lice and other bird ectoparasites to the point that some begin to wander in search of new hosts.