Head to head
Barbastelle vs Brown Long-eared Bat
Barbastelle
VS Brown Long-eared Bat
The barbastelle and brown long-eared bat are both European woodland bats that use unusually quiet calls, but one is a flat-faced moth specialist and the other a long-eared gleaner of insects from leaves.
| Barbastelle | Brown Long-eared Bat | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Barbastella barbastellus | Plecotus auritus |
| Face and ears | Flattened face with an upturned nose and ears that join across the forehead | Ears almost as long as its head and body combined, curled like ram's horns at rest |
| Echolocation | Calls much quieter than those of most bats, helping it avoid alerting moths | Very soft calls, which makes it hard to detect with a bat detector |
| Diet | Mainly moths, caught in flight | Moths, flies, and beetles, many of which it picks from leaves |
| Roost | Cracks and loose bark of trees, moving between roosts often | Trees, roofs, and caves |
| Winter | Hibernates in cold places and can tolerate low temperatures | Curls its ears back along its body when hibernating |
| Range | Old woodland across Europe, parts of North Africa, and the Caucasus region | Woodland, parks, and gardens across much of Europe and into western Asia, including Britain and Ireland |
| Conservation status | Near Threatened, with a decreasing population | Least Concern, with a stable population |
Barbastelle vs Brown Long-eared Bat: common questions
Which bat is a stealthy moth hunter?
The barbastelle, whose calls are much quieter than those of most bats, which helps it avoid alerting moths that can hear bat calls.
Which bat has the huge ears?
The brown long-eared bat, whose ears are almost as long as its head and body combined.
Which bat is more at risk?
The barbastelle, which is Near Threatened and depends on old woodland, while the brown long-eared bat is Least Concern.