Bank Vole (Myodes glareolus)

OTHER NAMES: Red-backed Vole, Wood Vole

Latin Etymology: Myodes (?) glareolus ("gravel coloured")

Adult Bank Vole (subspecies M. g. britannucus) at Trevose, Cornwall - July 2019

Featured Subspecies: Myodes glareolus britannicus
Weight: 15-36g  /  Length: 11-19cm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUTATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

One of the two common terrestrial voles found on the British mainland, the Bank Vole is subtly different from the Field Vole, the other of the two species.  It is the most common vertebrate in the UK with a population estimated to be in the region of 75 million.  Most of my sightings of this species have been on the edge of woodland where they scuttle through ditches feeding.  They can most reliably be located by scuttling in the undergrowth, although of course, this can be one of various species.  Voles in general are something of a lynchpin species as the most common small prey in grassland habitats, being one of the favoured prey species of predators including various owls and raptors, foxes, mustelids and snakes.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia
Family: Arvicolinae
Genus: Myodes
SUBSPECIES: M. g. bernisi, M. g. bicolor, M. g. bosniensis, M. g. britannicus, M. g. cantueli, M. g. curcio, M. g. devius, M. g. erica, M.g. fulvus, M. g. garganicus, M. g. glareolus, M. g. gorka, M. g. hallucalis, M. g. helveticus, M. g. hercynicus, M. g. insulaebellae, M. g. intermedius, M. g. istericus, M. g. italicus, M. g. jurassicus, M. g. makedonicus, M. g. minor, M. g. nageri, M. g. norvegicus, M. g. ognevi, M. g. petrovi, M. g. pirinus, M. g. ponticus, M. g. pratensis, M.g. reinwaldti, M. g. riparia, M. g. rubidus, M. g. rufescens, M. g. ruttneri, M. g. saianicus, M. g. sibericus, M. g. sobrus, M. g. suecicus, M. g. variscicus,M. g. vasconiae, M. g. vesanus, M .g .wasjuganensis, M. g. skomerensis, M. g. caesarius, M. g. alstoni

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An abundant but secretive mammal (75,000,000)

 - Seen at Geddington and Trevose Head though evidence of presence seen elsewhere.

Further Notes:  BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

Field Vole (Microtus agrestis)

OTHER NAMES: Short-tailed Field Vole
Latin Etymology: Microtus ("small ear") agrestis ("located in fields")  

Field Vole (Microtus agrestis) at Geddington, Northants, UK - August 2011

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 20-50g  /  Length: 11-17cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Though in my experience, the bank vole is more often seen, the field vole is also one of our most numerous mammals, being found throughout the island of Great Britain, though absent from Ireland. It's range extends into Eastern Russia across temperate habitat into Siberia, though it is absent from much of the Mediterranean. Primarily a herbivore, favouring grasses, yarrow, clover, dandelion and buttercups. 
 
Related Species: 
Order: Rodentia
Family: Arvicolinae
Genus: Microtus
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 
 
- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - An abundant but secretive mammal 

 - Seen at Geddington 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

.