Head to head
Parti-coloured Bat vs Noctule
Parti-coloured Bat
VS Noctule
The parti-coloured bat and noctule are both fast, high-flying bats of Europe and Asia that migrate in parts of their range, but they differ in colour and in where they roost and mate.
| Parti-coloured Bat | Noctule | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Vespertilio murinus | Nyctalus noctula |
| Coat | Dark brown back tipped with pale hairs, giving a frosted, two-toned look | Glossy golden to chestnut-brown fur |
| Migration | Travels long distances, sometimes well over a thousand kilometres | Some populations travel hundreds of kilometres between summer and winter roosts |
| Flight | Flies fast and high over open country, woodland, and water | Flies high and fast in open air, and often appears while it is still light |
| Roost | Rock crevices and the cracks of tall buildings | Mainly tree holes, but also bat boxes and buildings |
| Mating calls | Males call from high points such as cliffs and tall buildings in autumn | Not specifically documented |
| Diet | Flies, moths, and other insects caught in high, fast flight | Large flying insects such as beetles and moths high above the ground |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, thinly spread and hard to survey | Least Concern, dependent on mature trees with holes |
Parti-coloured Bat vs Noctule: common questions
Why is it called the parti-coloured bat?
Its dark brown back is tipped with pale hairs, giving it a frosted, two-toned look.
Which bat roosts in tree holes?
The noctule, while the parti-coloured bat roosts in rock crevices and the cracks of tall buildings.
Do both bats migrate?
Yes, the parti-coloured bat sometimes travels well over a thousand kilometres, and some noctule populations travel hundreds of kilometres.