Common Starling vs Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Sturnus vulgaris compared with Accipiter nisus

Key Differences

• Common Starling is Near Threatened while Eurasian Sparrowhawk is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Starling	Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Aves (Birds)	Aves (Birds)
Order	Passeriformes (Songbirds)	Accipitriformes (Hawks & Eagles)
Family	Sturnidae	Accipitridae (Hawks & Eagles)
Genus	Sturnus	Accipiter
Species	Sturnus vulgaris	Accipiter nisus

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Starling and Eurasian Sparrowhawk share a common ancestor at the Class level: Aves. (Birds)

Conservation Status

Common Starling

NT — Near Threatened

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Starling	Eurasian Sparrowhawk
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

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.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Russia, and Sweden.

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.

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Widespread and abundant across its range, with stable populations and no immediate conservation concerns.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 5 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇷🇺 Russia 🇸🇪 Sweden