Brown Long-eared Bat
Plecotus auritus
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The Brown Long-eared Bat is one of the most distinctive UK bats — the ears are almost as long as the body (up to 4cm). This extraordinary hearing is an adaptation for 'passive listening' — it can hear the footfall of a moth crawling on a leaf by ear alone, without echolocating. It is almost silent on a bat detector (echolocates very quietly) and gleans prey from vegetation surfaces. The ears are folded back under the wings when roosting, leaving only the pointed tragus visible.
At a Glance
| Order | Chiroptera |
| Family | Vespertilionidae |
| Habitat | Woodland · Garden · Churchyard · Pinewood edge |
| Diet | Moths, beetles, earwigs — gleaned from leaves and bark surfaces |
| UK population | Around 245,000 — second most common bat after pipistrelle |
| Sefton Coast | Present in the Formby pinewoods and mature gardens near woodland |
| Conservation | UK Green List |
Where to See It
Formby pinewoods and woodland edges. Gleans insects from leaves. Very quiet echolocation.
Identification
Medium bat. Pale brown fur above, pale below. Enormous ears nearly as long as body — visible in flight. Very quiet echolocation (~40kHz, very low intensity) — 'soft' on bat detector. Slow, fluttering flight in woodland.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Watch the edges of the Formby pinewoods with a bat detector in June. The very quiet echolocation means it's often heard only at close range. The large ears are sometimes visible in flight.
Conservation Status
UK Green List
This species has a favourable conservation status in the UK and remains an important part of Sefton Coast biodiversity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can the Brown Long-eared Bat hear so well?
The Brown Long-eared Bat's huge ears have a very high surface area, capturing small sound waves efficiently. The complex fold pattern inside the ear (tragus and antihelix) helps determine the direction of sounds with great precision. The bat can detect the rustling of a moth's wings or the footfall of a beetle on a leaf from several metres away — enough to locate prey without echolocating and alerting the prey.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.