Plecotus – Big-eared bats

Belonging to the family Vespertilionidae, these bats are found across a wide range of habitats in Europe, Asia, and North Africa, extending even into parts of the Middle East and Central Asia. Their scientific name, Plecotus, comes from the Greek words plekein (to fold) and ous (ear), meaning literally “folded ear”, a perfect description of their signature feature. These bats are nature’s acoustic experts—quiet, stealthy, and perfectly adapted for listening to the faintest sounds in the night.

Unlike many bats that catch insects in mid-flight, big-eared bats practice a method called gleaning—listening for prey on leaves, tree bark, or the forest floor, then swooping down silently to snatch it. Their oversized ears work like ultra-sensitive parabolic receivers, picking up the tiniest rustles made by spiders, beetles, or moths. Some species even take advantage of moths’ evasive defenses; they use low-intensity echolocation calls that are nearly undetectable to their prey, allowing them to sneak up undetected. This quiet approach, combined with their slow, fluttering flight, makes them some of the most stealthy and precise hunters in the bat world.

Members of the Plecotus genus tend to have soft, woolly fur—usually gray, brown, or buff in color—paired with a gentle, almost whimsical appearance thanks to their huge ears and small, foxlike faces. They are typically forest and woodland dwellers, preferring areas rich in vegetation where insects are abundant. Some species, such as the grey long-eared bat (Plecotus austriacus), thrive in open meadows and farmland, while others, like the brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus), prefer old forests and parklands. Their roosting habits vary too: they often rest in tree holes, caves, barns, and attics, folding their gigantic ears neatly under their wings when they sleep—a comical yet practical adaptation to protect their sensitive hearing organs.