Barn Swallow vs Black-winged Starling

Hirundo rustica compared with Acridotheres melanopterus

Key Differences

Barn Swallow is Least Concern while Black-winged Starling is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Barn Swallow	Black-winged Starling
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Aves (Birds)	Aves (Birds)
Order same	Passeriformes (Songbirds)	Passeriformes (Songbirds)
Family	Hirundinidae	Sturnidae
Genus	Hirundo	Acridotheres
Species	Hirundo rustica	Acridotheres melanopterus

Evolutionary Relationship

Barn Swallow and Black-winged Starling share a common ancestor at the Order level: Passeriformes. (Songbirds)

View Order: Passeriformes

Conservation Status

Barn Swallow

LC — Least Concern

Black-winged Starling

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Barn Swallow	Black-winged Starling
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Barn Swallow

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (6 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela).

Black-winged Starling

Habitat

Typically found in various aerial, terrestrial, and aquatic environments.

Range

Found in Norway. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Barn Swallow

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Widespread and abundant across its range, with stable populations and no immediate conservation concerns.

The Black-winged Starling (Acridotheres melanopterus) is a species in the genus Acridotheres. It is currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Found in Norway. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.