Black-eared flying fox vs Common Starling

Pteropus melanotus compared with Sturnus vulgaris

Key Differences

• Black-eared flying fox is Vulnerable while Common Starling is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Black-eared flying fox	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	Pteropodidae (Fruit Bats)	Sturnidae
Genus	Pteropus (Flying Foxes)	Sturnus
Species	Pteropus melanotus	Sturnus vulgaris

Evolutionary Relationship

Black-eared flying fox and Common Starling share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Black-eared flying fox

VU — Vulnerable

Common Starling

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Black-eared flying fox	Common Starling
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Black-eared flying fox

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-eared flying fox

The Black-eared flying fox (Pteropus melanotus) is a species in the genus Pteropus. It is currently classified as Vulnerable 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.