Head to head
Common Pipistrelle vs Noctule
Common Pipistrelle
VS Noctule
The common pipistrelle and noctule are two of the bats you are most likely to see on a European evening, yet one is a tiny, flickering hedgerow flier and the other a large, high-flying hunter.
| Common Pipistrelle | Noctule | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Pipistrellus pipistrellus | Nyctalus noctula |
| Size | Weighs only a few grams, with a wingspan of around 20 to 25 cm | One of the larger bats of Europe, with long, narrow wings |
| Flight | Fast, erratic flight along hedgerows, woodland edges, and around street lights | Flies high and fast in open air, and often appears while it is still light |
| Roost | Crevices and roof spaces of houses | Mainly tree holes, but also bat boxes and buildings |
| Diet | Small flying insects such as midges and flies | Large flying insects such as beetles and moths high above the ground |
| Migration | Not specifically documented | Some populations travel hundreds of kilometres between summer and winter roosts |
| Range | Europe, parts of western Asia, and North Africa | Woodland, parkland, and open country across much of Europe and Asia |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, among the most common bats across its range | Least Concern, dependent on mature trees with holes |
Common Pipistrelle vs Noctule: common questions
Which bat is bigger, the common pipistrelle or the noctule?
The noctule, which is one of the larger bats of Europe, while the common pipistrelle weighs only a few grams.
Which bat flies high?
The noctule, which flies high and fast in open air, while the common pipistrelle flits low along hedgerows and woodland edges.
Where do the common pipistrelle and noctule roost?
The common pipistrelle often roosts in crevices and roof spaces of houses, while the noctule roosts mainly in tree holes.