Giant Evening Swift - Nyctalus lasiopterus
Giant Evening Swift - Nyctalus lasiopterus
Results
The Giant Evening Swift was recorded on Giglio as early as 1939. However, the occurrence of this species in Europe is very sporadic and mostly limited to individual records of colonies. In Italy, it is mainly found in Tuscany. In principle, the giant noctule can colonise the entire Mediterranean region as well as Central and Eastern Europe, but its occurrence often remains patchy and is difficult to detect. As part of the project on Giglio, call recordings have not yet been able to be clearly assigned to the giant noctule bat, as there are overlaps in the call spectrum with the European bulldog bat, which makes it difficult to identify them with certainty.
The giant noctule is the largest bat species in Europe and, along with the water bat(Myotis daubentonii), the only species whose diet consists not only of insects, but which also hunts songbirds.
At a glance:
Appearance:
| Body length: | 8-10 cm |
| Wingspan: | 40-46 cm |
| Weight: | 40-76 g |
| Coat: | reddish-brown fur |
| Special characteristics: | Distinctive build with strong jaws and narrow wings |
Distribution, habitat and behaviour:
| Distribution area: | The giant evening swift can be found in large parts of Europe, from the Iberian Peninsula to Central and Eastern Europe and Asia. |
| Habitat: | Prefers old deciduous and mixed forests with large, cavity-rich trees, but also utilises park-like landscapes and urban areas. Tree hollows, crevices in rocks or high buildings serve as roosts. |
| Localisation call: | Very loud, long calls with frequencies of 16 to 25 kHz. |
| Hunting behaviour: | The giant evening swift is a fast and persistent flyer that hunts its prey in the open air. In addition to insects, it also hunts small songbirds that migrate during the night. |
| Migration: | A migratory species, travelling > 2500 km between its summer and winter quarters. |