Natterer's Bat (Myotis nattereri) lives in european forests across Western Eurasia. It feeds on flies and spiders. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Hear the Natterer's Bat
A real field recording of the Natterer's Bat, made in the wild.
Recording: Uploads from the Somerset Bat Groups events and members, CC BY, via iNaturalist
Hear the full recording of the Natterer's Bat, and 4,400+ more species, in the free Feravox app.
Natterer's bat uses echolocation calls that cover a wide range of frequencies, from 23 kHz up to 115 kHz. Most of the acoustic energy is concentrated around 53 kHz, giving the calls a strong centre frequency. Each pulse lasts only about 3.8 ms, which together with the broad bandwidth lets the bat detect prey only a few centimetres from leaves or twigs. This precise acoustic picture replaces vision or smell when hunting at night.
The free edge of the interfemoral membrane between the hind limbs is distinctly wrinkled and fringed with stiff, curved hairs, a feature that sets Natterer's bat apart from similar species. Supporting this membrane is a cartilage spur, the calcar, which is uniquely shaped like an "S". These hairs are thought to serve a sensory role, helping the bat sense insects it brushes against while flying.
Natterer's bat is capable of descending to the ground to seize nocturnal invertebrates such as spiders or beetles. Even while perched on the substrate it keeps broadcasting its frequency-modulated search calls, allowing it to pinpoint moving prey with high accuracy. This behaviour lets the bat supplement its aerial hunting by actively gathering insects that are active on the forest floor after dusk.
Natterer's bat does not migrate long distances, remaining in the same general area throughout the year. In summer it chooses roosts in trees, buildings or bat boxes that are close to where it feeds, and in winter it seeks out caves, tunnels, mines or cellars to hibernate. The two types of sites are typically no more than 120 kilometres apart, meaning the bat's seasonal homes are usually within the same landscape.
The species occupies a broad elevational band, being found from sea level up to roughly 2,000 metres. Within this range it lives in forests, parkland and open countryside where woodland is scattered, taking advantage of a variety of roosting options such as holes in trees, buildings and nest-boxes. At higher altitudes it still selects suitable crevices in caves or mines for winter hibernation.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
In the whispering twilight, the Natterer's bat stirs, its delicate form unfolding like a dark, leathery petal as it takes to the evening skies. With a fluttering, erratic flight, it dances through the trees, its large ears twitching with every subtle vibration, drinking in the symphony of sounds that guide it through the darkness. As it flits and weaves, its remarkable agility and acute hearing allow it to pluck unsuspecting insects from the air with precision, a true master of the nocturnal realm.
Advertisement
Hear the Natterer's Bat, and 4,400+ more
Real recorded sounds, 11 nature games and a free Daily 5, 1v1 quiz duels, conservation wins and a safe Kids mode. Free on Feravox.
