Description

Distinguishing Features - Length: 40-50 mm; Wingspan: 245 - 300 mm; Weight: 7 - 12g. Colour: fur light buff brown on back, white underneath. Bare pink face.

Habitat

Natterer's bats are very common throughout all of Europe and western Russia, up to the Arctic Circle. Summer roosts: old stone buildings and large-timbered barns, tree-holes; winter roosts: caves and mines, most underground shelters; feeding habitat: open woodland, parkland, hedgerows, along waterside vegetation.

Diet

Flies, moths, other small insects and spiders.

Notes

Natterer's bats have a slow to medium flight speed, sometimes over water, but more often amongst trees where their broad wings and tail membrane give them great manoeuvrability at slow speed. They normally fly at heights of less than five metres, but occasionally may reach 15 metres among tree canopy.

The emergence of Natterer's bats from their roost reaches a peak about one hour after sunset. There is then a lull in activity before the bats begin to return. They have been observed returning an hour or two before sunrise. An exceptional cluster of about 10 bats is regularly found at one site. In their efforts to lodge in small crevices they can be found in almost any position, including lying on their back or sides, or even resting on their heads. Individual Natterer's bats are occasionally found hibernating in buildings, in crevices between beams.

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