British Bat Species

British Bat Species

Greater Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum)

This rare species is restricted to South West England and South Wales. With a wingspan of between 290 – 350mm, this large bat roosts in old buildings and caves. It emerges about 40 – 50 minutes after sunset and has slow, fluttering flight with short glides close to the ground along habitat edges or in vegetation.

 Bat Detector Information:

• Peak frequency range (kHz): 82 (80-84)
•  Call frequency range (kHz): 64 - 84 
•  Call description: continuous loud bubbling warbling. Calls are very directional and difficult to detect

Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) 

A rare species that is restricted to south west England and South Wales. This small bat has a wingspan of between 192 – 254mm and roosts in old buildings and caves. It emerges 50 – 50 minutes after sunset and has fairly fast and skilful flight close to the ground along habitat edges and vegetation.

Bat Detector Information:

• Peak frequency range (kHz): 109.8 (106.4 – 113.3)
• Call frequency range (kHz): 84.6 – 113.3 
•  Bat detector call description: continuous loud bubbling warbling. Calls are very directional and difficult to detect

Noctule Bat (Nyctalus noctula)

This widespread and fairly common bat is found throughout Britain up to southern Scotland. It is a large species with a wingspan of between 320 – 450mm and roosts in trees, rarely in buildings. Emerging 5 – 10 minutes after sunset and occasionally before, this bat has a fast, straight flight above trees and open habitats, diving steeply when hunting.

Bat Detector Information:

•  Peak frequency range (kHz): 20.3 (16.8 – 26)
•  Call frequency range (kHz): 15.2 – 52.8 
•  Call description: slow, irregular, very loud, metallic ‘chinks’ or ‘chip-chop’ calls over the whole frequency range.

 

Leisler’s Bat (Nyctalus leisleri)

This widespread but rare bat is found throughout Britain to Southern Scotland but is absent from Wales. A medium sized species with a 300 – 340mm wingspan, it roosts in trees and buildings and emerges 10 – 15 minutes after sunset and sometimes before. It has fast, straight flight above trees in open habitats and dives less steeply than the Noctule bat when hunting.

Bat Detector Information:

•  Peak frequency range (kHz): 26.9 (21.1 – 36.6)
• Call frequency range (kHz): 20.6 – 61.0) 
• Call description: slow, irregular, loud, metallic ‘chinks’ or ‘chip-chop’ calls with clicks at the top of the frequency range.

 

Serotine Bat (Eptesicus serotinus)

This widespread and fairly common bat is found in southern England and South Wales. It has a large 320 – 380mm wingspan and roosts in trees and old buildings.

Emerging 20 – 25 minutes after sunset, but occasionally before sunset, it has relatively slow flight, often above roof height. It flies in loops in open areas and much closer to vegetation than Noctule bats.

Bat Detector Information:

• Peak frequency range (kHz): 32.3 (25.6 – 42.4)
• Call frequency range (kHz): 22.4 – 32.0 
• Call description: medium slow, quite loud, irregular ‘smacks’.

Barbastelle Bat (Barbastella barbastellus)

This widespread but rare bat can be found in England and South Wales. A small species with a wingspan of 245 – 290mm, it roosts in trees and buildings and emerges 30  - 60 minutes after sunset. It has fast purposeful flight, in vegetation and along habitat edges.

Bat Detector Information:

• Peak frequency range (kHz): 36.8
• Call frequency range (kHz): 28.4 – 46.0 
• Call description: quiet, castanet-like ‘smacks’.

 

Common Pipistrelle Bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus)

This widespread and small species is found throughout Britain. It has a wing span of 200 – 234mm and roosts in both old and new buildings, trees and in bat boxes. 

The common pipestrelle emerges 20 – 30 minutes after sunset, and sometimes before. Its flight is fast, erratic at head height, often along habitat edges.

Bat Detector Information:

• Peak frequency range (kHz): 46.5 (41.7 – 51.8)
• Call frequency range (kHz): 40.8 – 83.3 
• Call description: irregular, loud, ‘wet slaps’ developing into clicks at the higher end of the frequency range.

Soprano Pipistrelle Bat (Pipistrellus pygmaeus)

This widespread and common species of bat is found throughout Britain and is small, having a 192 – 232mm wingspan. It roosts in trees, old and new buildings and also bat boxes.

Emerging 20 – 30 minutes after sunset, and occasionally before, it has a fast, erratic flight at head height, often along habitat edges.

Bat Detector Information:

• Peak frequency range (kHz): 55.5 (48.8 – 61.6)
• Call frequency range (kHz): 47.3 – 90.04 
• Call description: irregular, loud, ‘wet slaps’ developing into clicks at the higher end of the frequency range.

 

Nathusius’ Pipistrelle Bat (Pipistrellus nathusii) 

This widespread and rare bat is found throughout Britain. With a wingspan of 220 – 250mm, it roosts in trees and old or new buildings, as well as bat boxes.

It emerges 20 – 30 minutes after sunset and has a fast, erratic flight at head height, often along habitat edges. It is not as manoeuvrable as the other pipistrelle bats in vegetation.

Bat Detector Information:

• Peak frequency range (kHz): 40.7 (36.0 – 44.1)
• Call frequency range (kHz): 34.6 – 79.2 
• Call description: irregular, loud, ‘wet slaps’ developing into clicks at the higher end of the frequency range.

 

The Brown Long-eared Bat (Plecotus auritus)

This widespread and common, medium sized bat, found throughout Britain. With a 240 – 285mm wingspan, it roosts in trees and old buildings and emerges 45 – 65 minutes after sunset. It has slow, fluttering, agile flight in vegetation with occasional hovering pauses.

Bat Detector Information:

• Peak frequency range (kHz): 39.8 (31.7 – 45.0)
• Call frequency range (kHz): 28.1 – 92.5 
• Call description: very quiet ‘ticks’. More commonly seen rather than heard on detectors.

 

The Grey Long-eared Bat (Plecotus austriacus)

This rare bat is restricted to central southern England. A medium-sized species with a 255 – 300mm wingspan, it roosts in trees and old buildings and emerges 45 – 65 minutes after sunset. It has slow, fluttering, agile flight in vegetation with occasional hovering pauses.

Bat Detector Information:

• Peak frequency range (kHz): 40.0 (32.0 – 45.0)
• Call frequency range (kHz): 28.0 – 93.00
• Call description: very quiet ‘ticks’. More commonly seen rather than heard on detectors.

 

Daubenton’s Bat (Myotis daubentonii)

The Daubenton’s is a widespread and common bat, found throughout Britain. With a wingspan of 230 – 275mm, this medium sized species roosts under bridges and in trees, buildings and tunnels. It emerges 40 – 50 minutes after sunset and has fast, straight flight most often low over smooth water and sometimes along habitat edges.

Bat Detector Information

• Peak frequency range (kHz): 47.8 (39.5 – 56.7)
• Call frequency range (kHz): 32.0 – 87.5
• Call description: Medium loud, rapid series of regular ‘clicks’ resembling rapid machine gun fire.

   

Natterer’s Bat (Myotis nattereri)

This bat is found throughout Britain. It is a widespread and fairly common medium species of bat which has a 245 – 300mm wingspan and roosts in trees, timber framed barns and stone buildings.

It emerges 40 – 60 minutes after sunset and has fast, agile flight at head height in habitat edges and sometimes low over water.

Bat Detector Information:

• Peak frequency range (kHz): 49.0 (28.0 – 68.0)
• Call frequency range (kHz): 20.0 – 101.00
• Call description: quiet to medium loud, rapid series of more irregular ‘clicks’. Softer than Daubenton’s bat, resembling a ‘stubble burning’ sound.

The Whiskered Bat (Myotis mystacinus)

A widespread but rare species, this small bat is only found in England and Wales. It has a 190 – 225mm wingspan and roosts in trees and buildings. Emerging 30 minutes after sunset, the whiskered bat has fast and straight flight along habitat edges.

Bat Detector Information:

• Peak frequency range (kHz): 50.0 (41.7 – 69.4)
• Call frequency range (kHz): 32.7 – 88.9
• Call description: medium loud, rapid series of more irregular ‘clicks’ resembling rapid machine gun fire.

The Brandt’s Bat (Myotis brandtii)

 This widespread and rare bat is found in England and Wales. It has a 210 – 255mm wingspan and roosts in trees and buildings. 

It emerges 30 minutes after sunset and has fast, agile flight at head height along habitat edges. The Brandt’s bat is more associated with woodland than the Whiskered bat.

Bat Detector Information:

• Peak frequency range (kHz): 50.0 (42.0 – 69.0)
• Call frequency range (kHz): 33.0 – 89.00Call description: medium loud, rapid series of more irregular ‘clicks’ resembling rapid machine gun fire.

   

The Bechstein’s Bat (Myotis bechsteinii)

This is a restricted and very rare bat found in central southern England. It is medium sized, with a 250 – 300mm wingspan and usually roosts in trees, rarely in buildings.

It emerges 30 minutes after sunset and flies at different heights in vegetation with a slow, fluttering flight which is very agile, even in confined spaces.

Bat Detector Information:

• Peak frequency range (kHz): 51.0 (45.6 – 55.2)
• Call frequency range (kHz): 28.4 – 131.00
• Call description: quiet, rapid series of more irregular ‘clicks’. Softer than Daubenton’s bat, resembling a ‘stubble burning’ sound.

 

Alcathoe Bat (Myotis alcathoe)

The alcothoe bat was only discovered as a UK breeding species in 2010 and no further details are at this time.