Black-bearded Tomb Bat vs Common Starling

Taphozous melanopogon compared with Sturnus vulgaris

Key Differences

• Black-bearded Tomb Bat is Least Concern while Common Starling is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Black-bearded Tomb Bat	Common Starling
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Chiroptera (Bats)	Passeriformes (Songbirds)
Family	Emballonuridae	Sturnidae
Genus	Taphozous	Sturnus
Species	Taphozous melanopogon	Sturnus vulgaris

Evolutionary Relationship

Black-bearded Tomb Bat and Common Starling share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Black-bearded Tomb Bat

LC — Least Concern

Common Starling

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Black-bearded Tomb Bat	Common Starling
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Black-bearded Tomb Bat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Common Starling

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, tundra, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 9 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (4 countries), Europe (5 countries), North America (6 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, Tonga), and South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Black-bearded Tomb Bat

The Black-bearded Tomb Bat (Taphozous melanopogon) is a species in the genus Taphozous. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Common Starling

Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List. Close to qualifying as threatened, with populations that may become vulnerable without conservation action.