Mammals · Chiroptera · Vespertilionidae

Bechstein's Bat

Myotis bechsteinii

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

Bechstein's bat is one of the most demanding woodland species in Europe: it needs mature deciduous forest with plenty of old trees and woodpecker holes in which to establish its breeding colonies. It has notably long ears and hunts in slow flight among the vegetation, often taking insects resting on leaves rather than in the air. In Spain it is present along the northern strip and in a few mountain enclaves, always in small populations.

Weight

7 g – 14 g

Size

4.5 cm – 5.5 cm

Lifespan

21 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

Temperate forestInsectivore Nocturnal Colonial Near Threatened Temperate forest Mammal

36countries 157parks14same family

Fun facts

It hunts by taking prey directly off the vegetation: instead of chasing insects in flight, it listens for the noise they make moving over leaves and picks them off the foliage, a technique that demands extraordinarily fine hearing.
The females of a colony stay faithful to the same stand of woodland for generations: if the wood where they were born is felled, they do not move to another, and the colony disappears.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Mature deciduous woodland with old trees and holes, in temperate Europe
Sexual maturity: 12 months
Gestation / incubation: 2 months
Litter / clutch size: 1

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myotis_bechsteinii