Noctule

Lifespan

12 years in the wild; up to 24 years in captivity

Size & Weight

35–48 cm body length, wingspan 32–40 cm; 18–56 g (males larger than females)

Habitat

Woodland edges, parks, farmland and urban areas with mature trees; roosts in tree cavities, bat boxes and building crevices across lowland Britain.

UK Distribution

Found throughout England, Wales and southern Scotland; summer resident breeding April–September, with partial migration of some populations to continental Europe for winter.

Diet

Insectivorous, feeding on flying insects caught in aerial pursuit, primarily beetles, flies, mosquitoes and small moths.

Prey

Beetles (Coleoptera), dipterans (flies, gnats, mosquitoes), small moths and other aerial insects

Predators

Tawny owls, sparrowhawks, and occasionally domestic cats and stoats when roosting or grounded

Mating Season

August to September

Breeding

Single brood of 1–4 young (typically 2), gestation approximately 12 weeks; pups born May–July and fledged by August.

Things With Wings

Species Profile

Sources and editorial status