Blackthorn Mining Bee vs Common Flicker

Andrena varians compared with Colaptes auratus

Key Differences

• Blackthorn Mining Bee is Least Concern while Common Flicker is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Blackthorn Mining Bee	Common Flicker
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees & Wasps)	Piciformes (Piciformes)
Family	Andrenidae	Picidae
Genus	Andrena	Colaptes
Species	Andrena varians	Colaptes auratus

Evolutionary Relationship

Blackthorn Mining Bee and Common Flicker share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Blackthorn Mining Bee

LC — Least Concern

Common Flicker

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Blackthorn Mining Bee	Common Flicker
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Blackthorn Mining Bee

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden.

Common Flicker

Habitat

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

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries) and North America (United States).

Blackthorn Mining Bee

The Blackthorn Mining Bee (Andrena varians) is a species in the genus Andrena. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Distributed across Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden.

Common Flicker

<em>Colaptes auratus</em> is a large woodpecker in the family Picidae, order Piciformes, commonly known as the northern flicker. Unlike most woodpeckers, this species frequently forages on the ground, using its long tongue to extract ants and beetle larvae from the soil. <em>Colaptes auratus</em> is documented in Europe and the United States, where it inhabits open woodlands, forest edges, suburban areas, and parks with mature trees suitable for nesting. The species is notably adaptable in its habitat use and is one of the most widespread woodpeckers in North America. It is easily recognized by its brownish-barred plumage, spotted underparts, and a bold white rump patch visible in flight. Two main subspecies groups are recognized — the yellow-shafted form in the east and the red-shafted form in the west — which interbreed extensively where their ranges meet. Flickers are cavity nesters, excavating holes in dead or dying trees. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway