UK Bat Species

Barbastelle

_{Barbastella barbastellus}

A rare and distinctive bat with a pug-like face and large, wide ears.

Listen to a barbastelle

Species Fact Sheet (available soon)

Bechstein's bat

_{Myotis bechsteini}

One of our rarest bats, found in parts of southern England and
south-east Wales. Find out about our Bechstein's Bat Project.

Listen to a Bechstein's bat

Species Fact Sheet (available soon)

Brandt's bat

_{Myotis brandtii}

Very similar to the whiskered bat, only being separated as
distinct species in 1970.

Listen to a Brandt's bat (not yet available)

Species Fact Sheet

Brown long-eared bat

_{Plecotus auritus}

Huge ears provide exceptionally sensitive hearing - it can even
hear a ladybird walking on a leaf!

Listen to a brown long-eared bat

Species Fact Sheet

Common pipistrelle

_{Pipistrellus pipistrellus}

Pipistrelles are the commonest British bats.
A single pip can eat 3,000 tiny insects in just one night!

Listen to a common pipistrelle

Species Fact Sheet

Daubenton's bat

_{Myotis daubentonii}

Known as the 'water bat' as they fish insects from the water's
surface with their large feet or tail.

Listen to a Daubenton's bat

Species Fact Sheet

Greater horseshoe bat

_{Rhinolophus ferrumequinum}

Horseshoe bats possess a distinctive horseshoe-shaped noseleaf.

Listen to a greater horseshoe bat

Species Fact Sheet

Greater
mouse-eared bat

_{Myotis myotis}

Was declared extinct in 1990, but an individual has been
hibernating in southern England since 2002.

Listen to a greater mouse-eared bat (not yet available)

Species Fact Sheet (available soon)

Grey long-eared bat

_{Plecotus austriacus}

Generally a little larger than the brown long-eared bat and has a dark face.

Listen to a grey long-eared bat (not yet available)

Species Fact Sheet

Leisler's bat

_{Nyctalus leisleri}

Also known as the 'hairy-armed bat', it's similar to the noctule but smaller with longer fur.

Listen to a Leisler's bat

Species Fact Sheet

Lesser horseshoe bat

_{Rhinolophus hipposideros}

Able to wrap its wings completely around its body while at rest,
differing from the greater horseshoe bat whose face can usually be seen.

Listen to a lesser horseshoe bat

Species Fact Sheet

Nathusius' pipistrelle

_{Pipistrellus nathusii}

A previous migrant species, it has only been classed as a resident species since 1997.

Listen to a Nathusius' pipistrelle

Species Fact Sheet

Natterer's bat

_{Myotis nattereri}

Its broad wings enable it to fly slowly and prey on a wide variety of insects, even snatching spiders from their webs!

Listen to a Natterer's bat

Species Fact Sheet

Noctule

_{Nyctalus noctula}

Has long narrow wings and flies in a straight line, very high and fast.

Listen to a noctule

Species Fact Sheet

Serotine

_{Eptesicus serotinus}

Has broad wings and a leisurely flapping flight.

Listen to a serotine

Species Fact Sheet

Soprano pipistrelle

_{Pipistrellus pygmaeus}

Similar to common pipistrelle but distinguished by its higher frequency echolocation call.

Listen to a soprano pipistrelle

Species Fact Sheet

Whiskered bat

_{Myotis mystacinus}

Slightly smaller than Brandt's bat but sharing the same shaggy fur.

Listen to a whiskered bat

Species Fact Sheet