Nyctalus leisleri, commonly known as Leisler’s bat or the lesser noctule, is a medium-sized bat belonging to the Vespertilionidae family. It occurs across much of Europe and parts of western Asia and North Africa, including the Iberian Peninsula.
This insect-eating bat is well adapted for fast flight in open air and woodland landscapes, making it an important predator of nocturnal insects.
Leisler’s bats are typically associated with woodland habitats, particularly areas with mature trees that provide cavities for roosting. However, they are also found in parks, agricultural landscapes and rural areas, where they may use buildings or bat boxes as shelters.
In landscapes such as Vale do Lourêdo, the mixture of forest patches, riparian vegetation and open fields creates suitable environments for this species to forage and roost.
This species is a medium-sized bat, measuring approximately 48 to 68 mm in body length, with a wingspan between 26 and 33 cm and weighing roughly 11 to 20 grams.
Its fur is typically brown to golden-brown, while the wings, ears and muzzle are darker. The bat has long narrow wings that allow it to fly quickly and efficiently while hunting insects in open air.
Nyctalus leisleri emerges from its roost shortly after sunset to hunt flying insects such as moths, beetles and flies.
It often hunts above forest canopies, fields or near water bodies, using echolocation to detect prey in flight. Some populations are also known to undertake long seasonal migrations, with recorded movements of over 1,000 kilometres across Europe.
As an insect-eating mammal, the Leisler’s bat plays an important ecological role in controlling populations of nocturnal insects.
Because it depends on mature trees and suitable roosting sites, the presence of this species often reflects well-preserved woodland ecosystems and balanced rural landscapes.