Pipistrellus pygmaeus; The Soprano Pipistrelle
The echolocation range of this bat is between 55 - 80kHz. At the top of the range, 80kHz, a series of clicks can be heard compared to the bottom of the range, 55kHz, which is heard as deep slaps.
Very similar to the common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), the soprano is also one of the most common and widespread of all the UK bat species. Emerging from their roosts 20 minutes after sunset, the soprano pipistrelle will fly anywhere between 2 - 10m above ground level searching for flying invertebrates, in particular small flies, midges and mosquitoes, which they catch on the wing by a method called ‘aerial hawking’. They can consume up to 3,000 insects a night.
During the summer months, the maternity colonies are formed providing a secure environment for females to give birth to a single young during June and early July. The young are unable to fly for the first 4 weeks and unable to forage for themselves till six weeks of age. The male bats will either roost in solitude or in small groups until the mating season from July to September. During the mating season, the males will defend their individual territory making ‘song flights’ around the roost to attract females.
Roosts can range from crevices of farm buildings to tree holes and bat boxes. Summer roosts can comprise of 200 individuals however they have been known to reach in the thousands. During the winter however they can be solitary or in small groups in areas which are relatively exposed.
Very similar to the common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus), the soprano is also one of the most common and widespread of all the UK bat species. Emerging from their roosts 20 minutes after sunset, the soprano pipistrelle will fly anywhere between 2 - 10m above ground level searching for flying invertebrates, in particular small flies, midges and mosquitoes, which they catch on the wing by a method called ‘aerial hawking’. They can consume up to 3,000 insects a night.
During the summer months, the maternity colonies are formed providing a secure environment for females to give birth to a single young during June and early July. The young are unable to fly for the first 4 weeks and unable to forage for themselves till six weeks of age. The male bats will either roost in solitude or in small groups until the mating season from July to September. During the mating season, the males will defend their individual territory making ‘song flights’ around the roost to attract females.
Roosts can range from crevices of farm buildings to tree holes and bat boxes. Summer roosts can comprise of 200 individuals however they have been known to reach in the thousands. During the winter however they can be solitary or in small groups in areas which are relatively exposed.