British Bats
Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus
| BAT STATS Weight- 3.5-8.5g Wingspan- 180-240mm Head-Body Length- 36-51mm Forearm Length- 28-35mm Ear Length- 9-13.5mm |
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DESCRIPTION- The Common Pipistrelle is the most numerous bat found in Europe, and the smallest apart from the Midge Bat. Its success is probably due to its adaptability. Their colour can vary but is a dark brown, the undersides being slightly paler. The ears have a distinctive triangular shape and are short and broad, while the tragus is relatively small and partially hidden. The wing membranes are dark brown. The wings are narrow in shape, giving it a very rapid but also very chaotic zigzag flight.
DISTRIBUTION- The Common Pipistrelle has a very wide distribution throughout Europe. It is found throughout the British Isles. It is the most abundant species of bat seen in Britain, and the one most likely to be seen.
HABITATS- Found in a variety of habitats including woodland, parkland, cultivated land and also gardens and urban areas. Can often be seen flying around streetlights in towns. Because of their small size pipistrelles can use the smallest crevices as a roost. They are perfectly happy to use buildings as roosts and will utilize gaps between bricks or under guttering with ease. They also regularly roost in bird and bat boxes. Winter roosts can be in buildings or in trees, in southern Europe caves are used. The Common Pipistrelle will change its roost frequently. A colony may be split into many smaller groups using separate roosts.
LIFESPAN- average of 4 years. Maximum of 16 years.
BREEDING- Mating takes place in autumn in special mating roosts. The young are born in maternity roosts in June or July. They are weaned at 4 weeks of age and shortly after learn to fly and become independent.
BEHAVIOUR- Common Pipistrelles are one of the first species to emerge from the roosts after darkness falls. They normally only travel a short distance from their roost to their hunting grounds. They hunt along individual hunting 'beats', often flying repeatedly in circles over the same ground, usually utilising woodland clearings, hedgerows or other natural boundaries. They feed on small insects that they catch on the wing. It normally hunts at heights of 2 to 10 metres above the ground. They hibernate between October and March.