Mammals
Silver-Haired Bat
Lasionycteris noctivagans · also called silver-haired bats
Fluttering slowly and low over the still surface of a forest pond, a silver-haired bat’s dark, frosted fur catches the last light of dusk as it hunts for moths, a solitary flier that will spend the coming day tucked alone behind a curl of loose bark.
Overview
The silver-haired bat, Lasionycteris noctivagans, is a distinctively coloured, insect-eating mammal native to forest habitat across an extensive range spanning Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico. Its striking silver-tipped dark fur, unusually slow fluttering flight, and solitary bark-roosting habits make it one of the more visually and behaviourally distinctive bats found across North America.
A slow flier with a solitary lifestyle
Rather than joining the large colonies favoured by many other bat species, the silver-haired bat prefers a quieter, more solitary existence, tucked alone behind loose bark and foraging with an unhurried, fluttering flight unlike its faster relatives.
Status
Least Concern, widespread across suitable forest habitat throughout Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico.
Silver-Haired Bat: common questions
Why is it called the silver-haired bat?
This species has dark blackish-brown fur tipped with silver-white hairs, a distinctive two-toned colouration that gives the species its common name and sets it apart visually from several other North American bat species with more uniformly coloured fur.
How does the silver-haired bat's flight differ from other bats?
This species flies with a notably slow, fluttering pattern, often foraging low over water or along forest edges, quite different from the faster, more direct flight style seen in several other North American bat species pursuing similar insect prey.
Does the silver-haired bat roost in large colonies?
No, this species typically roosts alone or in small groups behind loose tree bark or within small cavities, rather than forming the large colonies seen in some other bat species, a more solitary approach to daytime shelter.
Does the silver-haired bat migrate or hibernate for winter?
Both, depending on location; this species undertakes seasonal migration in parts of its range while hibernating locally in other areas, showing considerable flexibility in how different populations cope with winter conditions across its extensive range.