UK Bats
We are lucky enough to have 18 species of bat in the UK, 17 of which are known to be breeding here - that's almost a quarter of our mammal species.
Every summer, thousands of people venture out to experience the wonder of bats in their natural environment. Sadly, bat populations have suffered severe declines during the past century, but the Bat Conservation Trust and more than 100 local bat groups are working hard to help our bats hang on. Learn more about where to see bats!
Resident bat species
Our resident breeding species are: Alcathoe bat; barbastelle; Bechstein's bat; Brandt's bat; brown long-eared bat; common pipistrelle; Daubenton's bat; greater horseshoe bat; grey long-eared bat; Leisler's bat; lesser horseshoe bat; Nathusius' pipistrelle; Natterer's bat; noctule; serotine; soprano pipistrelle; and whiskered bat.
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Alcathoe batThe latest addition to the UK bat family, only being confirmed as a resident species in 2010 due to its similarity to the whiskered and Brandt's bat species. |
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BarbastelleA rare and distinctive bat with a pug-like face and large, wide ears. You can help monitor this bat! |
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Bechstein's batOne of our rarest bats, found in parts of southern England and south east Wales. Find out about our Bechstein's Bat Project. |
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Brandt's batVery similar to the whiskered bat, only being separated as distinct species in 1970. |
Myotis brandtii|
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Brown long-eared batThis bat's huge ears provide exceptionally sensitive hearing - it can even hear a ladybird walking on a leaf! |
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Common pipistrellePipistrelles are the commonest British bats, weighing around 5 grams (less than a £1 coin). A single pipistrelle can eat 3,000 tiny insects in just one night! |
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Daubenton's batKnown as the 'water bat', Daubenton's bats fish insects from the water's surface with their large feet or tail. You can help monitor this bat! |
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Greater horseshoe batHorseshoe bats possess a distinctive horseshoe-shaped noseleaf. |
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Grey long-eared batThis bat is generally a little larger than the brown long-eared bat and has a dark face. |
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Leisler's batAlso known as the 'hairy-armed bat', it's similar to the noctule but smaller with longer fur. |
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Lesser horseshoe batAble to wrap its wings completely around its body while at rest, differing from the greater horseshoe bat whose face can usually be seen. |
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Nathusius' pipistrelleA previous migrant species, it has only been classed as a resident species since 1997. You can help monitor this bat! |
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Natterer's batIts broad wings enable it to fly slowly and prey on a wide variety of insects, even snatching spiders from their webs! |
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NoctuleThis bat has long narrow wings and flies in a straight line, very high and fast. It's our biggest bat, but it's still smaller than the palm of your hand! |
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SerotineThe Serotine has broad wings and a leisurely flapping flight. |
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Soprano pipistrelleSimilar to common pipistrelle but distinguished by its higher frequency echolocation call. |
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Whiskered batSlightly smaller than Brandt's bat but sharing the same shaggy fur. |
Vagrant species and occasional visitors
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Greater mouse-eared batThis bat was officially declared extinct in 1990, but a solitary individual has been hibernating in southern England since 2002. |
There are a number of other non-resident bat species that occasionally make apperances on our shores having blown over from the continent, notably Kuhl's pipistrelle and parti-coloured bat. You can find our more about our vagarant species are detailed in the vagrant species factsheet.
