Mammals
Brown Long-eared Bat
Plecotus auritus · also called common long-eared bat
Hovering among the leaves of a woodland oak at night, a brown long-eared bat tilts its huge ears toward a faint rustle, a quiet hunter that listens for its prey rather than shouting at it.
Overview
The brown long-eared bat, Plecotus auritus, is a Least Concern bat of woodland and gardens across Europe and parts of Asia. Its enormous ears, soft echolocation, and leaf-gleaning hunting make it one of the most distinctive bats of the Old World.
A listening hunter
Most bats find prey with loud calls, but this one relies partly on listening, plucking moths and other insects from leaves with delicate precision.
Status
Least Concern, widespread across a large range.
Brown Long-eared Bat: common questions
How long are the brown long-eared bat's ears?
They are almost as long as its head and body combined.
Why does it fold its ears?
When resting or hibernating it curls its ears back along its body, so they look like small ram's horns.
How does the brown long-eared bat find prey?
It gleans insects from leaves and bark, listening for the faint sounds they make, and uses very soft echolocation calls.
Where is the brown long-eared bat found?
It lives in woodland, parks, and gardens across much of Europe and into Asia, including Britain and Ireland.