Head to head
Field Vole vs Bank Vole
Field Vole
VS Bank Vole
The field vole and bank vole are two of the most common voles of Europe and overlap across much of their range, but one is a grass specialist and the other a creature of hedgerows and woodland edges.
| Field Vole | Bank Vole | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Microtus agrestis | Myodes glareolus |
| Coat | Greyer, with a short tail and blunt nose | Distinctly reddish-brown |
| Habitat | Rough grassland, moorland, and woodland edges across Europe and northern Asia | Hedgerows, woodland edges, and areas with dense low cover across much of Europe |
| Diet | Herbivore, eating grasses, leaves, and stems, and roots and bark in winter | Omnivore, eating seeds, fruit, fungi, and occasional insects |
| Foraging style | Tunnels through thick grass, leaving well-worn runways | Forages across the woodland floor and hedgerow habitat |
| Predators and numbers | A main food for barn owls, kestrels, weasels, and foxes, with numbers rising and crashing over a few years | A key food for owls, foxes, and weasels, offsetting a lifespan of under two years with rapid reproduction |
| Health link | Not specifically documented | A natural reservoir of a hantavirus that can occasionally spread to people |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Field Vole vs Bank Vole: common questions
How can you tell a field vole from a bank vole?
The bank vole has a distinctly reddish-brown coat, while the field vole is greyer with a shorter tail.
Which vole lives in woodland edges?
The bank vole, which is common in hedgerows, woodland edges, and areas with dense low cover, while the field vole prefers rough grassland.
Which vole can carry a hantavirus?
The bank vole is a natural reservoir for a hantavirus that can occasionally spread to people, usually through contact with contaminated droppings or dust.