Soprano pipistrelle

  • The Common Pipistrelle and the Soprano Pipistrelle are very similar on look and where they are found. The easiest way to tell them apart if through the frequency of echolocation calls
  • The It does also have a paler face to the common pipistrelle
  • They weigh 3g - 8g. This is the same weight as a 20 pence There wingspan in 190 - 230mm and head and body length is 35 - 45mm
  • These bats are found throughout the UK with the exception of the northern coast of scotland

How they fly

They are fast and jerky in flight as they go around to catch insects

Habitat

  • Soprano Pipistrelles usually feed in wetland habitats like over lakes and rivers. But they also feed near woodland edge, tree lines and even in urban areas. They often catch thousands of insects in a single night 
  • They generally emerge from their roost around 20 minutes after sunset and fly 2-10m above ground level searching for their insect prey, which they catch and eat on the wing by ‘aerial hawking’. Soprano pipistrelles appear to be more selective in their habitat use than the more generalist common pipistrelle.
  • Summer roosts of these bats are similar to common pipistrelles often found on the outside of newer buildings in crevices 
  • They can also roost in tree holes and bat boxes

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    In winter soprano pipistrelles are found singly or in small numbers in crevices of buildings and trees, and also in bat boxes. They are often found in relatively exposed locations and rarely underground.

     

Diet

Soprano pipistrelle feeds mainly on small flies, particularly midges and mosquitoes that are associated with water.

Echolocation

The sounds made by bats are well above the human hearing range however some young children with very good hearing may hear their social calls.

With a bat detector (heterodyne) the echolocation calls of soprano pipistrelle can be picked up between about 55 and 80kHz. The calls sound like a series of clicks towards the top of this range, turning into ‘wetter’ slaps with the deepest sounding slap being heard at about 55kHz, the peak intensity of the call.

 

 

Reproduction and Life Cycle