Credit Tom Marshall 1/1

Brown Long-eared Bat Plecotus auritus

The Brown Long-eared Bat is a medium-sized bat with very big ears. All UK bats are nocturnal, feeding on midges, moths and other flying insects that they find in the dark by using echolocation. As well as hunting airborne insects, Brown Long-eared Bats also fly slowly through foliage, picking insects directly from leaves; they eat large prey on perches, rather than in flight. Brown Long-eared Bats roost in holes in trees and old buildings, and feed along hedgerows, and in parks, gardens and woodland. During the summer, females form maternity colonies and have just a single pup. They hibernate over winter, between November and April.

Conservation status

Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Priority Species under the UK Post-2010 Biodiversity Framework. European Protected Species under Annex IV of the European Habitats Directive.

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Details

Did you know? The Brown Long-eared Bat is known as the 'Whispering Bat', because its voice is very quiet - no need to shout when you have such big ears! While at rest, it tends to either curl its ears back or tuck them under its wings.
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