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Hoary Bat

Lasiurus cinereus

Summary 2

The Hoary bat is one of our most beautiful tree bats. They favor roosting in live oaks and among Spanish moss. They are a large species bat about the same size as a sparrow. The hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) is a species of bat in the vesper bat family, Vespertilionidae. It occurs throughout most of North America and much of South America, with disjunct populations in the Galápagos Islands and Hawaii.

Behavior 3

The bat normally roosts alone on trees, hidden in the foliage, but on occasion has been seen in caves with other bats. It prefers woodland, mainly coniferous forests, but hunts over open areas or lakes. It hunts alone and its main food source is moths. The bats can cover an impressive 39 km (24 mi) while foraging. Hoary bats are long-distance migrants, spending the winter in Central America and the southwestern United States and the spring and summer in more northern latitudes in the United States and Canada.

Conservation 3

While not listed as threatened or endangered, hoary bats suffer significant mortality from wind turbines. Across the United States in 2005, 40% of all bats killed by wind turbines were hoary bats—over 1000 hoary bats were killed in 2005. Most bat deaths occur during migration in the spring and fall. One common theory explaining this is that bats are attracted to the tall structure, possibly believing them to be trees that can be used for rest.

Description 3

The hoary bat averages 13 to 14.5 cm (5.1 to 5.7 in) long with a 40 cm (15.5 in) wingspan and a weight of 26 g (0.92 oz). It is the largest bat normally found in Canada and Chile. Its coat is dense and dark brown, with white tips to the hairs that give the species its 'hoary' appearance for which it is named. The body is covered in fur except for the undersides of the wings. Males and females are dimorphic in body mass, with females 40% heavier than males.

Reproduction 3

The reproductive cycle of the hoary bat is not yet fully documented, but it is thought that they mate in August with birth occurring in June of the following year. It is thought that the gestation period is only 40 days and that mammalian embryonic diapause (delayed implantation) may play a role. The female bears a single pup, or sometimes twins. The young spend about a month with the mother before dispersing.

Summary 4

The hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) is a species of bat in the vesper bat family, Vespertilionidae. It lives throughout most of North America and much of South America, with disjunct populations in the Galápagos Islands and Hawaii.

Appearance 5

13-15 centimeters long with a wingspan of 43 centimeters. It has thick brownish-gray fur with a substantial white tinge, more substantial than the silver-haired bat, but is less tinged on its stomach. It has a yellow face and throat with a black muzzle. Its ears are yellow with a black edge, and it has a short snout.

Behavior/Reproduction 5

Mating season happens during autumn migration. Pregnancy happens the following spring, and females give birth between mid-May and early July to 1-4 young, although usually there are 2. The young learn to fly after 33 days and learn to hunt at the same time.

Hoary bats are solitary, only congregating to migrate or to feed. They are most active five hours after sunset and hunt in treetops and by lake and stream shores. They use echolocation to hunt and make chattering sounds in flight. They hiss if disturbed. Most migrate south in the autumn. Their autumn migration is more organized than their spring migration.

Citations 5

http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Lasiurus_cinereus/

Fun Fact 5

Its name comes from the frosted appearance of its fur.

Habitat 6

Roosts in trees, forages wherever there is large numbers of flying moths.

Habitat 5

Anywhere there is a tree, preferably one with thick foliage. They live in both coniferous and deciduous forests, and they can use trees deep within forests, on forest edges, by forest clearings and in city parks and streets. They roost by day in the leaves but have been known to use woodpecker holes, squirrel nests, planks of wood and, rarely, building overhangs. Most hibernate in the southern part of their range; few if any hibernate in the north.

Range 6

Statewide.

Size 6

2-4", wingspan 15-16".

Summary 7

The hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) is a species of bat in the vesper bat family, Vespertilionidae. It is found throughout most of North America and much of South America (fig. 3). The hoary bat averages 5"-5.7" in length, and 15.7" in wingspan. It roosts most frequently alone in trees, hidden in the foliage. It hunts alone at night in open areas where it can find its main food source, moths. Pelage overall is frosted or hoary (mixed brownish and grayish with white-tipped hairs, wrist and shoulder patches whitish), yellowish on the throat. Ears are short and rounded, rimmed in dark brown or black, tragus (fleshy covering over opening of ear) short and broad (figure 1 and 2). Its average call is at 23kHz, which is lower than many bat species in the area. It is hard to distinguish this bat and other bat species in the area unless captured. If captured compare to picture above to identify whether or not it is a hoary bat. This bat can be found in Iron County, UT.

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Jason Headley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jason Headley
  2. Adapted by Tricia LeBlanc from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoary_bat
  3. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoary_bat
  4. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lasiurus_cinereus
  5. (c) gburg2016, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/376014
  6. (c) raymie, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/976870
  7. (c) Zachary Eric Mathews, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/335858

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