Mammals
Hoary Bat
Lasiurus cinereus · also called hoary bats
Hanging alone amid a curtain of forest leaves, a hoary bat’s frosted fur blends almost seamlessly into dappled light and shadow, a solitary roosting strategy quite different from the cave-dwelling colonies many other bat species depend on.
Overview
The hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus, is a widely distributed, long-distance migratory bat native to forest habitat across an extensive range spanning North America, Central America, and South America. Its distinctive frosted fur, solitary tree-foliage roosting, and disproportionate vulnerability to wind turbine collisions make it one of the more geographically far-reaching and conservation-significant bats found anywhere in the Americas.
A long-distance traveller increasingly at risk
Among the most widely ranging bat species in the hemisphere, the hoary bat’s extensive migratory journeys have unfortunately placed it directly in the path of expanding wind energy infrastructure, making turbine collisions a serious and growing threat.
Status
Least Concern but decreasing, widespread across its extensive range throughout the Americas, with population declines linked significantly to fatal wind turbine collisions during migration.
Hoary Bat: common questions
Why is it called the hoary bat?
This species has fur with white-tipped hairs that create a frosted, greyish appearance often described as hoary, a distinctive colouring that gives the species its common name and helps distinguish it from many other North American bats.
Where does the hoary bat sleep during the day?
Unlike many bat species that roost in caves or buildings, this species typically roosts alone among tree foliage, relying on its frosted fur pattern to help it blend into leaves and branches rather than depending on the shelter of a cave or structure.
Why are hoary bats particularly affected by wind turbines?
This species has been found to be disproportionately affected by collisions with wind turbines compared with many other bat species, likely related to its long-distance migratory habits, which bring large numbers of individuals through turbine-dense areas during seasonal movement periods.
How far does the hoary bat migrate?
This species undertakes substantial seasonal migrations, travelling considerable distances between summer and winter ranges across its extensive range in North, Central, and South America, a pattern quite different from bat species that instead hibernate locally through winter.