Books > Collaborations > RSPB Spotlight Bats (43) More files... Bloomsbury Wildlife, ISBN 9781472950055
Thanks to their speed, size and nocturnal habitats, bats are among the most interesting, and least understood, mammals that frequent our homes and gardens. From their ability to make sounds that are above the range of human hearing, to their reliance on echolocation to navigate objects and find prey, their unique behaviour means that bats are seldom seen or heard.

With nearly 1,400 species worldwide, bats make up around 25 per cent of all mammal species. Spotlight Bats features all 17 species that live and breed in the British Isles, as well as an array of the most fascinating bats from around the world, including some of the more charismatic species such as vampire bats and fishing bats. Nancy Jennings uses up-to-date research to provide insights intothe lives of these elusive mammals, covering the biology, diversity, evolution and ecology of bats, as well as their interactions with humans and folklore.
Common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) roosting in cave, Costa Rica. - Nick Hawkins
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Nick Hawkins / Common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) roosting in cave, Costa Rica.
Long-eared bat {Plecotus auritus} flying through meadow, UK - Stephen Dalton
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Stephen Dalton / Long-eared bat {Plecotus auritus} flying through meadow, UK
Common Pipistrelle Bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) hunting at twilight with silhouette of village in background, Berwickshire, Scotland, UK, June - Laurie Campbell
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Laurie Campbell / Common Pipistrelle Bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) hunting at twilight with silhouette of village in background, Berwickshire, Scotland, UK, June
White tent making bat (Ectophylla alba) roosting in tree, La Selva Field Station, Costa Rica. - Phil Savoie
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Phil Savoie / White tent making bat (Ectophylla alba) roosting in tree, La Selva Field Station, Costa Rica.
Rescued Natterer's bat (Myotis nattereri) held in a hand, showing its distinctive S-shaped calcar supporting the tail membrane , North Devon Bat Care, Barnstaple, Devon, UK, June 2016. Model released - Nick Upton
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Nick Upton / Rescued Natterer's bat (Myotis nattereri) held in a hand, showing its distinctive S-shaped calcar supporting the tail membrane , North Devon Bat Care, Barnstaple, Devon, UK, June 2016. Model released
Whiskered bat (Myotis mystacinus) with a wing damaged by a cat being inspected by Samantha Pickering at the bat rescue centre at her home, Barnstaple, Devon, UK, October 2015. Model released. - Nick Upton
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Nick Upton / Whiskered bat (Myotis mystacinus) with a wing damaged by a cat being inspected by Samantha Pickering at the bat rescue centre at her home, Barnstaple, Devon, UK, October 2015. Model released.
Samantha Pickering returns to the bat rescue centre at her home with a rescued Brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus) in a cardboard box, Barnstaple, Devon, UK, October 2015. Model released. - Nick Upton
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Nick Upton / Samantha Pickering returns to the bat rescue centre at her home with a rescued Brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus) in a cardboard box, Barnstaple, Devon, UK, October 2015. Model released.
Samantha Pickering showing a Noctule bat (Nyctalus noctula) to members of the public at an outreach event, Boscastle, Cornwall, UK, October. - Nick Upton
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Nick Upton / Samantha Pickering showing a Noctule bat (Nyctalus noctula) to members of the public at an outreach event, Boscastle, Cornwall, UK, October.
Noctule bat (Nyctalus noctula) shown to two children and their father by Samantha Pickering at a public outreach event, Boscastle, Cornwall, UK, October 2015. Model released. - Nick Upton
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Nick Upton / Noctule bat (Nyctalus noctula) shown to two children and their father by Samantha Pickering at a public outreach event, Boscastle, Cornwall, UK, October 2015. Model released.
Pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) flying from its daytime roost in barn roof, Sussex, UK - Stephen Dalton
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Stephen Dalton / Pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) flying from its daytime roost in barn roof, Sussex, UK
Brandt's bat (Myotis brandtii) held during an autumn swarming survey run by the Wiltshire Bat Group, near Box, Wiltshire, UK, September. Model released. - Nick Upton
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Nick Upton / Brandt's bat (Myotis brandtii) held during an autumn swarming survey run by the Wiltshire Bat Group, near Box, Wiltshire, UK, September. Model released.
Wiltshire Bat Group member retrieving a bat from the collecting trough of a harp trap set inside Box mine during an autumn swarming survey run by Wiltshire Bat Group, Box, Wiltshire, UK, September. Mo... - Nick Upton
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Nick Upton / Wiltshire Bat Group member retrieving a bat from the collecting trough of a harp trap set inside Box mine during an autumn swarming survey run by Wiltshire Bat Group, Box, Wiltshire, UK, September. Mo...
Serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus) with a numbered ring fitted a year earlier held during an autumn swarming survey run by the Wiltshire Bat Group, near Box, Wiltshire, UK, September. Model released. - Nick Upton
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Nick Upton / Serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus) with a numbered ring fitted a year earlier held during an autumn swarming survey run by the Wiltshire Bat Group, near Box, Wiltshire, UK, September. Model released.
Common pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) held during an autumn swarming survey run by the Wiltshire Bat Group, near Box, Wiltshire, UK, September. Model released. - Nick Upton
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Nick Upton / Common pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) held during an autumn swarming survey run by the Wiltshire Bat Group, near Box, Wiltshire, UK, September. Model released.
Bechstein's bat (Myotis bechsteinii) adult in flight, Belgium, September. meetyourneighbours.net project - MYN / Paul van Hoof
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MYN / Paul van Hoof / Bechstein's bat (Myotis bechsteinii) adult in flight, Belgium, September. meetyourneighbours.net project
Members of Kent Bat Group surveying deneholes or chalk caves for hibernating bats, near Faversham, Kent, UK, January 2011 - Terry Whittaker / 2020VISION
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Terry Whittaker / 2020VISION / Members of Kent Bat Group surveying deneholes or chalk caves for hibernating bats, near Faversham, Kent, UK, January 2011
Man watching a brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus) emerge from a house roof. Kent, UK, June 2011. Model released - Terry Whittaker / 2020VISION
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Terry Whittaker / 2020VISION / Man watching a brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus) emerge from a house roof. Kent, UK, June 2011. Model released
Nathusius' Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii). Orphan hand-raised by Kent Bat Group. Kent, UK, June. - Terry Whittaker / 2020VISION
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Terry Whittaker / 2020VISION / Nathusius' Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus nathusii). Orphan hand-raised by Kent Bat Group. Kent, UK, June.
Natterer's Bat (Myotis nattereri) flying low over water, mouth open to emit echolocating calls. France, Europe, July. - Eric Medard
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Eric Medard / Natterer's Bat (Myotis nattereri) flying low over water, mouth open to emit echolocating calls. France, Europe, July.
Spotted bat (Euderma maculatum) portrait, near The Grand Canyon, Kaibab National Forest, Arizona, USA, July. - Michael Durham
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Michael Durham / Spotted bat (Euderma maculatum) portrait, near The Grand Canyon, Kaibab National Forest, Arizona, USA, July.
Greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis), nursery roost under the roof of a church, females with young, Thuringia, Germany, July - Kerstin Hinze
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Kerstin Hinze / Greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis), nursery roost under the roof of a church, females with young, Thuringia, Germany, July
Honduran white tent bats (Ectophylla alba) sleeping under Heliconia leaf, Braulio Carillo National Park, Costa Rica - Konrad Wothe
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Konrad Wothe / Honduran white tent bats (Ectophylla alba) sleeping under Heliconia leaf, Braulio Carillo National Park, Costa Rica
Natterer's bat (Myotis nattereri) Captive, UK - Simon Colmer
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Simon Colmer / Natterer's bat (Myotis nattereri) Captive, UK
Close up of penis of Brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus) Captive, UK - Simon Colmer
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Simon Colmer / Close up of penis of Brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus) Captive, UK
Common Pipistrelle bat, 45khz (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) Captive, UK - Simon Colmer
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Simon Colmer / Common Pipistrelle bat, 45khz (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) Captive, UK
Leisler's bat (Nyctalus leisleri) climbing along branch, Captive, UK - Simon Colmer
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Simon Colmer / Leisler's bat (Nyctalus leisleri) climbing along branch, Captive, UK
Mexican Free-tailed Bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) emerging from Bracken Cave at dusk, San Antonio, Hill Country, Central Texas, USA - Rolf Nussbaumer
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Rolf Nussbaumer / Mexican Free-tailed Bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) emerging from Bracken Cave at dusk, San Antonio, Hill Country, Central Texas, USA
Alcathoe's bat (Myotis alcathoe) in flight, Germany - Dietmar Nill
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Dietmar Nill / Alcathoe's bat (Myotis alcathoe) in flight, Germany
Red tailed hawk {Buteo jamaicensis} flying amongst and predating on Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) flying from / to Bracken Cave and Echert James Bat Caves, Texas, USA - Philip Dalton
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Philip Dalton / Red tailed hawk {Buteo jamaicensis} flying amongst and predating on Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) flying from / to Bracken Cave and Echert James Bat Caves, Texas, USA
Long eared bat {Plecotus auritus} at its feeding perch, feeding on Yellow underwing moth {Noctua sp} UK - Stephen Dalton
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Stephen Dalton / Long eared bat {Plecotus auritus} at its feeding perch, feeding on Yellow underwing moth {Noctua sp} UK
Discarded moth wings beneath Long eared bat (Plecotus auritus) feeding perch, UK - Stephen Dalton
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Stephen Dalton / Discarded moth wings beneath Long eared bat (Plecotus auritus) feeding perch, UK
Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) hibernating amongst stalagtites in the cave Grotta Monte Majore, Sardinia, Italy - Kerstin Hinze
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Kerstin Hinze / Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) hibernating amongst stalagtites in the cave Grotta Monte Majore, Sardinia, Italy
Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) female with juvenile, hanging from the ceiling, Austria - Dietmar Nill
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Dietmar Nill / Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros) female with juvenile, hanging from the ceiling, Austria
Noctule bat {Nyctalus noctula} males flying from Black woodpecker nest hole in tree, Germany - Klaus Echle
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Klaus Echle / Noctule bat {Nyctalus noctula} males flying from Black woodpecker nest hole in tree, Germany
Long eared bat {Plecotus auritus} flying among oak leaves, captive, UK. - Kim Taylor
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Kim Taylor / Long eared bat {Plecotus auritus} flying among oak leaves, captive, UK.
Soprano / Common pipistrelle {Pipistrellus pipistrellus pygmaeus} at roost, Germany. - Dietmar Nill
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Dietmar Nill / Soprano / Common pipistrelle {Pipistrellus pipistrellus pygmaeus} at roost, Germany.
Grey long eared bat with insect prey {Plecotus austriacus} Germany - Dietmar Nill
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Dietmar Nill / Grey long eared bat with insect prey {Plecotus austriacus} Germany
Greater noctule bat feeding on bird {Nyctalus lasiopterus} Greece - Dietmar Nill
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Dietmar Nill / Greater noctule bat feeding on bird {Nyctalus lasiopterus} Greece
Bechstein bat emerging from hole {Myotis bechsteinii} Germany - Dietmar Nill
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Dietmar Nill / Bechstein bat emerging from hole {Myotis bechsteinii} Germany
Lesser horseshoe bat roosting on stalactite in cave, Germany {Rhinolophus hipposideros} - Dietmar Nill
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Dietmar Nill / Lesser horseshoe bat roosting on stalactite in cave, Germany {Rhinolophus hipposideros}
Greater mouse eared bat flying {Myotis myotis} Spain - Jose B. Ruiz
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Jose B. Ruiz / Greater mouse eared bat flying {Myotis myotis} Spain
Eastern blossom bat (Syconycteris australis) feeding on flower nectar, Djiru National Park, Mission Beach section, Wet Tropics of Queensland UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, Queensland, Australia. - Jiri Lochman
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Jiri Lochman / Eastern blossom bat (Syconycteris australis) feeding on flower nectar, Djiru National Park, Mission Beach section, Wet Tropics of Queensland UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site, Queensland, Australia.
Male Eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis) on tree trunk, near the Conasauga River, Chattahoochee-Oconee Natonal Forest, Georgia, USA, July. - Michael Durham
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Michael Durham / Male Eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis) on tree trunk, near the Conasauga River, Chattahoochee-Oconee Natonal Forest, Georgia, USA, July.