Common Pipistrelle vs Common Raven

Pipistrellus pipistrellus compared with Corvus corax

Key Differences

• Common Pipistrelle is Vulnerable while Common Raven is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Pipistrelle	Common Raven
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Chiroptera (Bats)	Passeriformes (Songbirds)
Family	Vespertilionidae	Corvidae (Crows & Ravens)
Genus	Pipistrellus	Corvus (Crows & Ravens)
Species	Pipistrellus pipistrellus	Corvus corax

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Pipistrelle and Common Raven share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Common Pipistrelle

VU — Vulnerable

Common Raven

NE — Not Evaluated

Population: ~16.0M

Trend: Increasing ↑

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Pipistrelle	Common Raven
Diet	—	Omnivore
Average Lifespan	—	15 years
Average Length	—	60 cm
Average Weight	—	1.2 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Pipistrelle

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found across Europe (7 countries). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Common Raven

Habitat

Typically found in a wide range of habitat types.

Range

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

Common Pipistrelle

<em>Pipistrellus pipistrellus</em>, the common pipistrelle, is a small bat in the family Vespertilionidae and one of the most abundant and widespread bat species in Europe. It is typically one of the first bats to emerge at dusk, flying with rapid, jerky wingbeats as it pursues small flying insects over gardens, woodland edges, water bodies, and urban areas. The species roosts in crevices in buildings, bat boxes, and tree holes, often forming large maternity colonies in summer. <em>Pipistrellus pipistrellus</em> echolocates at a characteristic frequency of around 45 kHz, which allows it to be identified using bat detectors. It is distributed across Europe, with confirmed records from Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, and Portugal, among many other countries. The species is assessed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, reflecting population declines driven by loss of foraging habitat, reduction in insect prey biomass, disturbance of roost sites, and pesticide use. Biological traits such as average lifespan, body size, weight, and detailed dietary composition across its range remain poorly documented in the scientific literature, though the species is known to consume large numbers of small moths, midges, and other aerial insects each night.

Common Raven

One of the most intelligent birds known, common ravens demonstrate problem-solving abilities rivaling great apes, including tool use, planning, and deceptive behavior. Found across the Northern Hemisphere from Arctic tundra to deserts, ravens are highly adaptable omnivores. They form complex social hierarchies, engage in cooperative foraging, and have been observed engaging in play. Their intelligence and black plumage have made them figures of mythology across many cultures.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 5 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇱🇺 Luxembourg 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden