Alternative Names (Synonyms)

• Great Bat
• Noctule commune (French)
• Abendsegler (German)
• Murciélago noctulo común (Spanish)
• Vespertilio noctula Schreber, 1774; France
• Vespertilio magnus Berkenhout, 1789; Cambridge, England.
• Vespertilio altivolans White, 1789; Selborne, Hants, England.

Alternative species names (the second part of the binomial species names): [Genus] altivolans; [Genus] furvus; [Genus] labiatus; [Genus] lardarius; [Genus] lebanoticus; [Genus] macuanus; [Genus] magnus; [Genus] mecklenburzevei; [Genus] minima; [Genus] palustris; [Genus] plancei; [Genus] princeps; [Genus] proterus; [Genus] rufescens; [Genus] sinensis; [Genus] velutinus; (B141).

Names for new-borns / juveniles

General Appearance

Similar Species

• Simple nose shape (no horseshoe)
• Ears well seperated from one another at base
• Post-calcarial lobe present on membrane
• Forearm more than 47mm
• Fur sleek, golden brown (whole body and even colour to each hair), tragus mushroom-shaped

(B167, B142)

References

Species Author

Major References

Husbandry references:
B142

• Wildlife and Countryside Directorate, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR)
• The Mammal Society
• Mammals Trust
• Bat Conservation Trust
• London Bat Group

• --

TAXA Group (where information has been collated for an entire group on a modular basis)

Parent Group

Specific Needs Group referenced in Management Techniques

Husbandry Information

Notes

• Breeding colony successfully maintained in close confinement for 6 years.
• Also maintained in large outdoor flight chamber (12x7x4m)

(B142)

• Accommodation of Casualty Insectivorous Bats
• Hand-rearing Insectivorous Bats
• Catching and Handling of Insectivorous Bats
• Feeding of Casualty Insectivorous Bats
• Release of Casualty Insectivorous Bats

Measurement & Weight

• Head-body length 70-82mm (B142).
• Forearm 47-55mm (B142)
• Wingspan 330-450mm (B142).

Head

Nose: Muzzle broad, glandular. Corners of mouth have conspicuous white glands particularly in males (B142).

Ears: Short stout broad ears (15mm-18 long and wide), well separated at base, brown, with tragus mushroom-shaped (B142, B167).

• Incisors: second upper incisor has larger crown area than first upper incisor.
• Premolars: first upper premolar very small.

(B142)

Legs and Tracks

• Wingspan: 330-450mm (B142).
• Forearm length: 47-55mm (B142).

Tail

Coat / Pelage

• Dorsal: Golden/ginger / reddish
• Ventral: slightly paler.
• Face and ears: dark brown (nearly black)
• Membranes: Dark brown (nearly black), with fur on wing membrane.

(B142, B167)

• Males: adult males brighter (B142).

• Juveniles darker, also slightly duller (B142)

Neonate (New-born) Characteristics

Detailed Anatomy Notes
(Summary information provided for pertinent species-specific data cross-referenced in Wildpro)

Natural Diet

• Large insects e.g. Acheta domestica - House cricket, Amphimallon solstitialis - Summer chafer, Melolontha melolontha - Cockchafer (may be a particular favourite).
• Small flies and beetles in Russia.

(B142)

• Trichoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera and Coleoptera prefered (B143).
• Recorded catching and eating Mus musculus - House mouse (B147)

Detailed Physiology Notes
(Summary information provided for pertinent species-specific data cross-referenced in Wildpro)

Feeding Behaviour

• Catch prey in flight.
• May also take food from surface.

(B142).

Parental Behaviour

Social Behaviour / Territoriality

• Nursery roosts over 100 individuals in continental Europe.
• In Britain mean per roost 14 bats in one study.
• Females move between roosts in March, carrying juveniles.
• Males solitary or in small groups
• Establish territorial mating roosts August - September, with females moving between these.

Winter: large (up to 1000 individuals) mixed-sex colonies.

(B142)

Sexual Behaviour

• Promiscuous.
• Breeding males occupy and defend roost site, flying out of roost several times each night to spend a few minutes calling to attract females.

(B52, B142).

Predation in Wild

Activity Patterns

• High, fast and straight (occasional rapid diversions) just before sunset
• Fast flights (up to 30m high), with deep dives, occassional glides.
• Decreased activity in bad weather - none caught by mist-netting in heavy rain.
• Greatly reduced foraging activity in winter.

(B142)

• Flights start 2-40 minutes after sunset.
• Peak foraging activity for about one hour at dusk.
• Second peak of foraging activity for about 30 minutes at dawn.

(B142)

General Habitat Type

• Lakes, pond, meadows and marshland, usually near the roosting site, used for foraging (B143).

Nests / Burrows / Shelters

• Mature deciduous trees: rot-holes and woodpecker holes, used throughout the year.
• In winter: rock face crevices, also buildings. Tree holes "south of the line delineating January isotherm -2 to -4°C" (B142)
• Use bat boxes.

(B142, B143)

Distribution and Movement (Migration etc.)

• In Europe: from Iberian Peninsula eastwards to Urals and Caucasus. North in Sweden as far as edge of broad-leafed forest (60-61°N).

(B51, B143)

• In Britain: throughout England (including Isle of Wight, probably throughout Wales (including Angelsea), also recorded south-west Scotland (B142).

Movement:

• Migratory in former USSR. Probably non-migratory in western Europe although some long distance movements from summer roosts. British population non-migratory.
• Individuals may move 20-44 km per day.
• Movements of 750km and even as long as 2,347km recorded.
• Mass migration in autumn, while in spring males may stay in mating area while females return to natal area.

(B142, B143, B147).

• Vagrants to Orkney, Shetland, North Sea oil rigs (B142).
• At least one record from Mozambique (B143).

--.

Intraspecific variation

• Five subspecies recognised, and may possibly be more than one species.
• Only nominate form Nyctalus noctula noctula is found in Europe.

(B143)

Conservation Status

Generally widespread and abundant.

• Great Britain: now rare in some areas, particularly agricultural areas.
• Netherlands: local declines due to loss of wetlands.
• Sweden: vulnerable due to destruction of hollow trees.

(B143)

• In Britain: native, "generally uncommon but more numerous in well-wooded areas". Pre-breeding population estimate of about 50,000, with 45,000 in England, 250 in Scotland, 4750 in Wales. Population estimate of this widely-distributed species was based on a limited amount of data and considered likely to be inaccurate by up to 50% in either direction (B221).

• Bern Convention, Appendix II
• Bonn Convention, Appendix II.
• EU Habitats and Species Directive, Annex IV

(B143)

• All bats are is listed on Schedule 5 (Protected animals) of the LUK2 - Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 of the United Kingdom. (W5.Oct01)
• All bats are listed on Schedule 6 (Animals which may not be killed or taken by certain methods) of the LUK2 - Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 of the United Kingdom. (W5.Oct01)

• Lack of available tree holes.
• Organochlorines.
• Illegal persecution.

(B143)

• Loss of ancient woodlands and old hedgerows affecting roost site and foraging habitat availability (B221).