What is "field vole"

Meadow \Mead"ow\, a. Of or pertaining to a meadow; of the nature of a meadow; produced, growing, or living in, a meadow. ``Fat meadow ground.'' --Milton. Note: For many names of plants compounded with meadow, see the particular word in the Vocabulary. Meadow beauty. (Bot.) Same as Deergrass. Meadow foxtail (Bot.), a valuable pasture grass ( Alopecurus pratensis) resembling timothy, but with softer spikes. Meadow hay, a coarse grass, or true sedge, growing in uncultivated swamp or river meadow; -- used as fodder or bedding for cattle, packing for ice, etc. [Local, U. S.] Meadow hen. (Zo["o]l.)

1. The American bittern. See Stake-driver.

2. The American coot ( Fulica).

3. The clapper rail.

   Meadow mouse (Zo["o]l.), any mouse of the genus Arvicola, as the common American species Arvicola riparia; -- called also field mouse, and field vole.

   Meadow mussel (Zo["o]l.), an American ribbed mussel ( Modiola plicatula), very abundant in salt marshes.

   Meadow ore (Min.), bog-iron ore, a kind of limonite.

   Meadow parsnip. (Bot.) See under Parsnip.

   Meadow pink. (Bot.) See under Pink.

   Meadow pipit (Zo["o]l.), a small singing bird of the genus Anthus, as Anthus pratensis, of Europe.

   Meadow rue (Bot.), a delicate early plant, of the genus Thalictrum, having compound leaves and numerous white flowers. There are many species.

   Meadow saffron. (Bot.) See under Saffron.

   Meadow sage. (Bot.) See under Sage.

   Meadow saxifrage (Bot.), an umbelliferous plant of Europe ( Silaus pratensis), somewhat resembling fennel.

   Meadow snipe (Zo["o]l.), the common or jack snipe.

n. A species of vole, (taxlink Microtus agrestis species noshow=1).

The field vole or short-tailed vole (Microtus agrestis) is a grey-brown vole, around four inches (ten centimetres) in length, with a short tail. It is one of the most common mammals in Europe, with a range extending from the Atlantic coast to Lake Baikal. These voles are found in moist grassy habitats, such as woodland, marsh or on river banks. Although they make shallow burrows, they usually build nests above ground. They are an important food source for owls and some other predators and their population size tends to peak and trough cyclically. Field voles breed prolifically, mainly in summer, but often all year round, even under snow. Females produce up to seven litters a year, each averaging from four to six young which are weaned after about fourteen days. The field vole is both widespread and common and is listed as being of " Least Concern" by the IUCN.