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Serotine bat

©Terry Whittaker/2020VISION

Serotine

The serotine is one of the first bats to appear at night and can be seen around lamp posts chasing moths, or at treetop height. It likes to roost and hibernate in old buildings in the south of the UK.

Scientific name

Eptesicus serotinus

When to see

April to October

Species information

Statistics

Length: 5.8-8.0cm

Wingspan: 32-38cm

Weight: 15-35g

Average lifespan: up to 19 years
Protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. European Protected Species under Annex IV of the European Habitats Directive.

About

The serotine is one of our largest bat species and one of the first to appear in the evening, often when it is still fairly light. It flies at treetop height and around lamp posts, using echolocation to hunt for flies, moths and chafer beetles. Serotines tend to roost and hibernate in older buildings and chimneys, and are rarely found in trees. During summer, the females form maternity colonies and have a single pup.

How to identify

The serotine has long, dark brown fur and a pale yellowish-brown belly. The wings, nose and ears are dark brown or black. It has a distinctive flight pattern with a slow flapping motion and short glides, often making steep descents.

Distribution

A less common species in the UK, it is found south of a line drawn from South Wales across to the Wash.

Did you know?

Serotines will eat large beetles on the wing, dropping the wingcases and legs as they go. They catch most of their food within about 2km of their roosts, and will often catch insects directly from vegetation or the ground.