[header] How to tell if your bird has mites [title] Check around your bird's eyes and beak for any crusty looking area. [step] Mites affect your bird by burrowing into their skin, often in the area around their eyes and beak. This is known as an infestation of, or burrowing face mites. 
In the early stages of this infestation, the mites are barely visible and will not affect the overall condition of your bird. But you may notice crusty plaques in the corners of your bird's beak or on your bird's beak.