Feather mites help to remove bacteria and fungi from the feathers of birds, according to a new study. In fact, the relationship between these mites and their hosts could be considered mutualism, with ...

Feather mites are microscopic arthropods that inhabit the plumage and skin of birds, occupying specific microhabitats on their hosts. These mites exhibit extraordinary morphological diversity and host ...

Lillian DeDomenic of Monroeville was snapping photos of birds in her backyard when one in particular caught her eye. At first, she wasn’t sure what it was. It had red body plumage, but its head was a ...

Backyard chickens may live a sweeter life than chickens on commercial poultry farms, but roaming green grass and scratching real dirt exposes these birds to a different suite of parasites than those ...

There are a number of species of mites that fall under the general name “bird mite.” Most common among them is the northern fowl mite (Ornithonyssus sylviarum). These mites are parasites of birds and ...

Every summer I get a few letters and emails from readers asking about “bald” birds. Usually it’s a cardinal or a blue jay, but I’ve seen photos of bald towhees, chipping sparrows, and grackles as well ...