Mammals
Common Pipistrelle
Pipistrellus pipistrellus · also called pipistrelle bat
At dusk above a hedgerow, a common pipistrelle flickers past a street lamp, a bat that weighs about as much as a few coins and will snap up thousands of midges before dawn.
Overview
The common pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, is a Least Concern bat found across much of Europe, western Asia, and North Africa. Its tiny size, roosts in buildings, and appetite for small insects make it one of the most familiar bats to people who live near it.
A bat that lives beside us
Many common pipistrelles roost in the cracks and roofs of houses, so they are often the bats people see flitting around gardens in the evening.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and one of the most common bats across its range.
Common Pipistrelle: common questions
How big is the common pipistrelle?
It weighs only a few grams and has a wingspan of around 20 to 25 cm, making it one of Europe's smallest bats.
What does the common pipistrelle eat?
It catches small flying insects such as midges and flies on the wing, and can eat thousands in a night.
Why are there two kinds of pipistrelle?
Scientists recognised the common and soprano pipistrelles as separate species that call at different frequencies, though the two look very alike.
Where does the common pipistrelle live?
It lives across much of Europe, parts of western Asia, and North Africa, often roosting in buildings.