# Silver-haired Bat (*Lasionycteris noctivagans*) The Silver-haired Bat is a small, furry bat with shiny silver hair. They love to fly around at night, catching insects in the air. These bats help keep the bug population down! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Silver-haired Bat](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/630644917/medium.jpg) Photo: Kalvin Chan, CC BY 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/630644917) ## Appearance The Silver-haired Bat has thick, dark brown to black fur tipped with silvery-white, giving it a frosty appearance. It has short, rounded ears and a short, blunt snout, making it look distinct from other North American bats. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Chiroptera - **Family:** Vespertilionidae - **Genus:** Lasionycteris ## Interesting facts - Baby silver-haired bats are called pups, and mothers usually give birth to twins! - Their furry bodies help keep them warm even during chilly nights in northern forests! - They can eat hundreds of tiny insects in a single night, like tiny vacuum cleaners! - They often roost alone, making them one of North America's most solitary bat species! ## Special abilities - **Night Navigator:** Silver-haired Bat can use echolocation to create a sound map, helping them find prey and navigate in total darkness. - **Migratory Marvel:** Silver-haired Bats have a strong instinct to travel long distances, moving between summer breeding grounds and warmer winter sites. - **Aerial Acrobats:** Silver-haired Bats possess flexible wings that help them perform quick turns and precise maneuvers while chasing insects mid-air. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 4.5-6.5 cm - **Wingspan:** 27-31 cm - **Weight:** 0.008-0.016 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-12 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-2 - **Gestation:** 50-60 days ## Diet & Feeding They are insectivores that feast on small flying insects caught during flight at night. - **Primary Foods:** Moths, Beetles, Flies, Midges, Caddisflies, Mosquitoes - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-tent-caterpillar-moth) (*Malacosoma americanum*) — preys on this common forest pest. - **Hunts:** Mountain Pine Beetle (*Dendroctonus ponderosae*) — helps control tree-damaging beetle populations. - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — can be caught by this nocturnal hunter. - **Shelter:** [Eastern White Pine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-white-pine) (*Pinus strobus*) — often roosts under bark or in cavities of these trees. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Echolocation](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/echolocation): Echolocation is a biological sonar used by animals to navigate, hunt, and communicate by emitting sound waves and interpreting the echoes. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Bats are usually shy and won't bother you. Just watch them from a distance! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Silver-haired Bat? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Silver-haired Bat? 4.5-6.5 cm ### What is Silver-haired Bat's wingspan? 27-31 cm ### How much does Silver-haired Bat weigh? 0.008-0.016 kg ### How long does Silver-haired Bat live? 10-12 years ### How fast can Silver-haired Bat move? 35 km/h ### What does Silver-haired Bat eat? They are insectivores that feast on small flying insects caught during flight at night. ### Where is Silver-haired Bat usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Double Trouble State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/double-trouble-state-park) — New Jersey, US · State Park - [Crotona Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/crotona-park) — New York, US · Park - [John Jay Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/john-jay-park) — New York, US · Park [View all places to see Silver-haired Bat](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/silver-haired-bat) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Silver-haired Bat: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/silver-haired-bat)