Parasites found on birds??

Question

Does anybody know what sort of parasites are found on birds? Swallows in particular? I found a half-dead swallow on my window sill (it had obviously flown into my room through the window and hurt itself trying to fly out again) and it was covered in parasites about the size of my little fingernail, so huge compared to the size of the bird!

(Yes I did manage to catch the bird in a towel and lay it outside until it flew away and its back above my window in its nest pooping all over my window again!)

Answer 1

Yes !! there are a number of species of Mites found on birds.

But in the case of your Swallow,it is a special Mite,that only lives on Swallows,Swifts and Martins.

They will survive with them,feeding off their host's but it makes you think how?because of there size.

You are right in saying they are big ,but did you notice that they are quite flat in appearance usually Grey in colour,

These can live for quite sometime without their host(Swallows etc.)in the birds nest ,they will live if left behind in the nest when the bird migrates and greet them when they return from migration and use their nests again,then they will readily feed off them again.

If you have a nest which your bird returns to next breeding season ,then when it has left to migrate spray the nest with some insect killer and your bird will return to a "Clean" nest.

Answer 2

It could be ticks or mites. You can get whats called a "bird saver" from almost any pet store. It almost looks like an air freshener, but it is a mite repellent. hang it near your window, and it might help the bird. I would suggest also putting decorations on your window, so it doesn't fly into it again. birds cannot see glass very well, so by putting things on the window, it will help him realize there is something in the way.