Wildlife
Common noctules are one of the first British bats to emerge in the evening. They are one of the larger British bat species and come out sometimes before sunset, to feed on moths, beetles and other large flying insects, flying fast and high above the ground. From October to April, noctules hibernate in trees, bat boxes, buildings and rock fissures. They sometimes sit on top of each other to keep warm though, in particularly cold winters, up to half might freeze to death in inadequate hibernacula.
Scientific name: Nyctalus noctula
Rank: Species
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Britain's largest bat
The common noctule is the UK's largest bat, but it's still only a handful.
The common noctule is the UK's largest bat, but it's still only a handful.
MOD cons
Greenham Common is reclaimed by mother Nature as a wildlife haven.
Greenham Common is reclaimed by mother Nature as a wildlife haven.
Species range provided by WWF's Wildfinder.
The Noctule bat can be found in a number of locations including: Asia, Europe, Indian subcontinent, Mediterranean, Russia, United Kingdom, Wales. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the Noctule bat distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Least Concern
Population trend: Unknown
Year assessed: 2008
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The common noctule (Nyctalus noctula) is a species of bat common throughout Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The UK distribution can be found on the National Biodiversity Network website here.
With a length of 8 cm and a wingspan of 35 cm, the common noctule bat is one of the largest in western and central Europe. When hunting, it often starts flying in early dusk, earlier than most European bats. It flies high above the forested areas that are its preferred habitat, reaching speeds of up to 50 km/h. Small to medium sized woodlands are preferred but they may forage up to 20 km from the woodland at night. When roosting through the day, the noctule bat usually seeks out tree holes or even bat boxes attached to the tree trunks.
Generally noctule bats live in forests, but some populations can be found in towns. There are many noctules in Hamburg, Vienna, Brno and some other central European cities.
In addition to the typical ultrasounds the noctule bat may expel shrill cries - this is a mating call. Common noctule bats mainly eat beetles, moths and winged ants.
Noctule bats hibernate in winter, and sometimes congregate in hibernation colonies of up to 1000 individuals. Tree holes are not warm enough so they search caves or objects like church steeples. Sometimes summer territories and hibernating places are hundreds of kilometres apart.
The common noctule bat is declining but the other European noctules are even rarer. The lesser noctule and the giant noctule live in forests only and never in towns.[ref]
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Oak wood
Farmland
Beech wood
Parkland
Broadleaf forest
Temperate grassland
Rainforest
Urban
Wetlands
Migration
Colonial
Adapted to flying
Acoustic communication
Hibernation
Maternal care
Nocturnal
Social
Echolocation and ultrasound
Viviparous