Mammal 🦇
🦇
Pipistrellus pipistrellus
| Size | 3.5–5 cm body About the size of a human thumb |
|---|---|
| Weight | 3–8 g Lighter than a 50p coin |
| Lifespan | Up to 11 years |
| Rarity | Common |
| M vs F | Females are slightly larger. Females roost together in maternity colonies of up to 1,000 bats; males roost alone or in small groups |
| Habitat | Woodland edges, hedgerows, water bodies, urban areas |
| Best time | May–October (hibernates November–April) |
| Conservation | UK: LC |
Did you know?
A single Common Pipistrelle can eat 3,000 midges in just one night! They find their prey using echolocation — sending out ultrasonic calls at 45 kHz, far too high for humans to hear.
A single Common Pipistrelle can eat 3,000 midges in just one night! They find their prey using echolocation — sending out ultrasonic calls at 45 kHz, far too high for humans to hear.
More for experts
Pipistrelles are legally protected in the UK — even disturbing their roost is a criminal offence. Their echolocation is so precise they can detect a wire just 0.3 mm thick in complete darkness.
Often confused with
Soprano Pipistrelle, Nathusius's Pipistrelle
Soprano Pipistrelle, Nathusius's Pipistrelle