Plecotus austriacus
Introduction
Grey long-eared bats are very rare, medium sized bats found only in a few places in southern England. It can be very difficult to distinguish the rare grey long-eared from the more common brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus). However, the inner earlobe (tragus) is wider and its thumbs are shorter. Grey long-eared bats tend to forage over meadows, grasslands, gardens and near forest edges.
Head & body length:
Forearm length:
Wingspan:
Weight:
Average colony size:
Lifespan:
Colour:
Larger and greyer than the brown long-eared – sometimes confused with juveniles of the latter. Face often darker with a blackish mask.
Conservation Status
One of the UK’s rarest mammals.
Roost sites
older houses with large open roof voids
Diet
moths, crane flies and small beetles
Echolocation
best heard at 32khz