• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
The Mammal Society

The Mammal Society

For Evidence Based Conservation

    • E-mail
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

 

  • Home
  • About
    • What We Do
    • News
    • Blog
    • Meet The Team
    • FAQs
    • Media Information & Press Releases
  • Science
    • Research
      • Are Britain’s wild animals eating plastics?
      • PROSIECT ADFER LYGOD DWY YNG NGHYMRU/ WATER VOLE RESEARCH PROJECT.
      • Harvest Mouse Project
      • Hedgehog hotspots
      • State of Nature 2019
      • Population Review 2018
      • Red List for Britain’s Mammals
      • Surveys and Projects
    • Publications
      • Mammal Review
      • Mammal Communications
      • Mammal News Magazine
      • Books and equipment
    • Ecostat
    • UK Mammal List
    • Students
  • Training
    • Courses
    • Events
  • Record Mammals
    • How To Record Mammals
    • Mammal Mapper
    • School Resources
    • Discover Mammals
    • County Mammal Recorders
  • Get Involved
    • Surveys and Projects
    • Local Groups
    • Mammal Photographer of the Year (MPOY)
    • The University Mammal Challenge (UMAC)
    • National Mammal Week
  • Support Us
    • Latest Appeal
    • Donations
    • Membership
    • Fundraise for us!
    • Leave a Legacy
    • Corporate Supporters
    • Books and equipment
    • Other Ways To Support Us
  • Join Us
  • Donate

Species – Natterer’s Bat

Natterer’s Bat – Myotis nattereri

Taxon: Chiroptera

(C) Daniel Hargreaves
Natterer’s Bat Red List Classification:
GB: Least Concern
England: Least Concern
Scotland: Least Concern
Wales: Least Concern
Global: Least Concern

 

Habitat: Broadleaved Woodlands, Riparian, Hedgerows

Description: Medium sized Myotis bat with brown-grey dorsal fur ang grey-white under and ventral fur.

Origin & Distribution: Native. Widespread in the UK, however, they are sparser in Scotland and Northern Ireland than in England and Wales. Found on the island of Arran, the Isle of Man, and the Isle of Wight. Historically found on Islay, however, recent records have failed to identify them.

Diet: High in flies, particularly dungflies and midges. Feed on the wing (hawking) and off surfaces (gleaning).

General Ecology: The Natterer’s bat is commonly associated with trees, particularly broadleaved woodlands, tree-lined river corridors, trees in parklands, and hedgerows adjacent to pastures. They have been observed foraging over grass and thistles on roadsides, in the open over pastures and meadows, and using mature Corsican pine plantations in Scotland. Most commonly recorded species at swarming sites in the UK, with large catchment areas (20-60km radius).  Winter roosts may be found in underground sites such as canal and railway tunnels, caves, mines, and ice houses.

Breeding: Maternity roosts are located in trees, bat boxes, and buildings (barns, churches, and old dwelling houses). Tend to be situated within 500m of woodland, the size of the woodland does not appear to be important.

Conservation Status: The Natterer’s bat is registered as Least Concern in the UK and globally. These bats are benefited by an increased availability of broadleaved woodlands and bat boxes. However, traditional roosts are at threat due to barn conversions and encroaching urban developments. Prey, particularly dung flies, are changing in abundance due to hanbiata change and the effects of pesticides (specifically avermectins) on dung flora.


Identification

Medium sized Myotis bat with brown-grey dorsal fur ang grey-white under and ventral fur. Main distinguishing features are the S-shaped calcar, the conspicuous fringe of short hairs along the edge of the tail membrane, and the long, sharply pointed tragus. Ears are relatively long, reaching a little beyond the tip of the muzzle if folded forwards. 

Identification Definitions

  • Calcar: Ancle spur.
  • Dorsal: back, or upper side of an animal
  • Muzzle: Projecting part of face, including nose and mouth.
  • Tail Membrane: Skin connecting the tail to the feet.
  • Tragus: Piece of skin near the ear canal.
  • Ventral: on or relating, to the animal’s underside.

Bat Detector

Range: 23-115 kHz

Most energy: 53 kHz

Average duration: 3.8 ms

Confusion Species

Difficult to identify conclusively on the basis of acoustic identification alone. Particularly, confused with Myotis myotis (greater mouse-eared bat).

Primary Sidebar

Our New Clothing Range

Support our research and campaigns

Shop Today

Our Latest Appeal

Help Our Appeal

Monitoring Mammals with a Drop of Water

More News

Latest Tweets

Tweets by Mammal_Society

Get Our e-Bulletin

Includes the latest news and updates from Mammal Society!

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required
cj-wildlife-logo

STAY IN THE KNOW
Subscribe to our mailing list and receive regular e-bulletin packed full of mammal news and ways you can get involved with mammal conservation

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required
Slider

Footer

  • Contact Us
  • Vacancies
  • Position Statements
  • AGM, Reports and Accounts
  • Data Protection
  • Privacy Policy
  • GDPR Information
  • GDPR Opt In

Sponsors

cj-wildlife-logo

Copyright © 2021 The Mammal Society, Black Horse Cottage, 33 Milton Abbas, Blandford Forum, Dorset DT11 0BL .... Registered Company No. 1455136 Charity No. 278918
Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions
Design by Fingerprint Digital Media