Which bat is it?
Bats in Cumbria
Explore the below area to find out what species of bat reside in Cumbria.
Of the 17 species of bat found in the British Isles, 9 have been recorded in Cumbria.
Brandt's Bat
Scientific name: Myotis Brandtii
Very similar to the whiskered bat, only being separated as distinct species in 1970.
Brown Long-Eared Bat
Scientific name: Plecotus Auritus
This bat's huge ears provide exceptionally sensitive hearing - it can even hear a ladybird walking on a leaf!
Common Pipistrelle
Scientific name: Pipistrellus Pipistrellus
Pipistrelles are the commonest British bats, weighing around 5 grams (same as a 20p piece). A single pipistrelle can eat 3,000 tiny insects in just one night!
Daubenton's Bat
Scientific name: Myotis Daubentonii
Known as the 'water bat', Daubenton's bats fish insects from the water's surface with their large feet or tail.
Nathusius' Pipistrelle
Scientific name: Pipistrellus Nathusii
A previous migrant species, it has only been classed as a resident species since 1997.
Natterer's Bat
Scientific name: Myotis Nattereri
Its broad wings enable it to fly slowly and prey on a wide variety of insects, even snatching spiders from their webs!
Noctule
Scientific name: Nyctalus Noctula
This 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!
Soprano Pipistrelle
Scientific name: Pipistrellus Pygmaeus
Similar to common pipistrelle but distinguished by its higher frequency echolocation call.
Whiskered Bat
Scientific name: Myotis Mystacinus
Slightly smaller than Brandt's bat but sharing the same shaggy fur.