Identifying Bats in flight
If you see bats in flight, many factors can help you take a educated guess at the most likely species. Things to look out for include:
- Size: Is it a large bat flying like a bird? or small bat with flittering flight?
- Wing shape: If you see the silhouette of the wings or body this can give clues.
- Speed, and pattern of flight: Slow flapping high along the treetops, erratic flight or skimming over water?
- Foraging habitat: Is it feeding in woodland, or widely swooping over a meadow?
- Type of roost it emerged from: Under the fascia of a modern house, hanging in a old barn, or emerging from a hole in a tree?
- Its “Jizz”: A term from bird watching; “the overall impression, appearance, or “vibe” of a bat that allows an experienced observer to identify it instantly”
Below is a good summary of four most common species you are most likely to see in the UK.
The Natural History Museum have also produced a excellent guide to Bat ID to download.
Want more Information?
Also have a look at the our page on the “most common and rarest Bat species in Somerset“, which has species factsheets for all the resident bats.
Want to go out and see bats for yourself? Then head to our “How to watch Bats” and “Where to look for bats” pages
Got the bat bug, and want to listen in to the bats echolocation? Then have a look at our page on building a bat detector.
