Cluster Bat vs Common Flicker

Myotis sodalis compared with Colaptes auratus

Key Differences

• Cluster Bat is Near Threatened while Common Flicker is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cluster Bat	Common Flicker
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Chiroptera (Bats)	Piciformes (Piciformes)
Family	Vespertilionidae	Picidae
Genus	Myotis	Colaptes
Species	Myotis sodalis	Colaptes auratus

Evolutionary Relationship

Cluster Bat and Common Flicker share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Cluster Bat

NT — Near Threatened

Common Flicker

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cluster Bat	Common Flicker
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cluster Bat

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found in United States. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Common Flicker

Habitat

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

Range

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

Cluster Bat

Myotis sodalis, the Indiana bat or cluster bat, is a medium-sized insectivorous bat in the family Vespertilionidae endemic to the eastern United States. It is one of the most endangered bats in North America, listed as Endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN. The species is named for its behavior of clustering in extremely dense hibernation groups—sometimes thousands of bats per square meter—in specific limestone caves and mines during winter. These few critical hibernacula make the species extremely vulnerable to disturbance and disease. Since 2007, Indiana bats have suffered severe mortality from white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans that disrupts hibernation and causes mass starvation. During summer, Indiana bats roost under loose bark of dead trees and forage for insects over forested landscapes and riparian areas. Foraging individuals consume moths, beetles, and flying insects. Conservation efforts include cave gate protection, white-nose syndrome research, and summer habitat management on public and private lands across the eastern US.

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 1 countries:

🇺🇸 United States