Common Pipistrelle
Pipistrellus pipistrellus
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The Common Pipistrelle is Britain's smallest and most abundant bat and the most likely bat you'll see on the Sefton Coast. A pipistrelle weighs about 5 grams — less than a 20p coin — and eats 3,000 insects per night. At Formby, where the pinewoods meet open grassland, bat numbers can be good on summer evenings. They emerge about 20 minutes after sunset, flying erratically low over vegetation catching moths and midges.
At a Glance
| Order | Chiroptera |
| Family | Vespertilionidae |
| Habitat | Woodland edge · Garden · Waterway · Open dune edge |
| Diet | Midges, moths, mosquitoes, small beetles — up to 3,000 per night |
| UK population | Around 2.4 million — Britain's most common bat |
| Sefton Coast | Common across the Sefton Coast wherever there is woodland edge, water or buildings |
| Conservation | UK Green List |
Where to See It
Any sheltered woodland edge, over water, around buildings at dusk. Formby pinewoods are particularly good.
Identification
Very small, dark brown bat. Rapid, jerky flight. Black face and ears. Wingspan about 22cm. Echolocates at 45kHz (detectable with bat detector).
Viewing & Photography Tips
Walk the pinewoods at Formby at dusk in June or July. A bat detector app on your phone (many free apps available) will reveal pipistrelle echolocation at 45kHz.
Conservation Status
UK Green List
This species has a favourable conservation status in the UK and remains an important part of Sefton Coast biodiversity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell Common Pipistrelle from Soprano Pipistrelle?
They are almost identical visually. The key difference is echolocation frequency — Common Pipistrelle echolocates at around 45kHz; Soprano Pipistrelle at around 55kHz. A bat detector app on your phone can detect and display these frequencies. Soprano Pipistrelle also tends to prefer waterside habitats.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.