One of Europe’s most enchanting and secretive nocturnal mammals—instantly recognizable for its enormous, soft ears that can stretch nearly as long as its body. Found across much of Europe, North Africa, and parts of western Asia, this delicate-looking bat is a master of stealth and precision. Its grayish-brown fur, pale underbelly, and soft, owl-like face give it an almost gentle appearance, but behind that calm exterior lies an expert night hunter finely tuned to its environment.
Unlike most bats that catch flying insects midair using fast, looping flight, the grey long-eared bat relies on a method called “gleaning.” It uses its ultra-sensitive hearing to detect faint rustles made by insects walking on leaves or the ground, then swoops down silently to pluck them off. Its huge ears act like high-precision radar dishes, capable of picking up the softest sounds—like the footsteps of a beetle or the flutter of a moth’s wings. This strategy allows it to hunt moths, spiders, beetles, and even caterpillars that other bats overlook.
The grey long-eared bat typically roosts in old buildings, barns, attics, or hollow trees, often close to grasslands and hedgerows where it can hunt efficiently. It is a quiet and solitary species, with colonies rarely numbering more than a few dozen individuals. In summer, females form small maternity groups to raise their pups, while males live alone or in small bachelor clusters. By late autumn, the bats move to sheltered hibernation sites—such as caves, cellars, or tunnels—where they spend the winter in deep torpor, sometimes curling their long ears under their wings to conserve heat. Their preferred habitats are traditional farmlands and flower-rich meadows, making them sensitive indicators of environmental health; where these bats thrive, biodiversity tends to flourish.
Distribution
Albania
Andorra
Austria
Belgium
Bosnia And Herz.
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czechia
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands
North Macedonia
Poland
Portugal
Romania
San Marino
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
United KingdomAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Colony
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
