
Identifying Bats of Britain and Ireland
A Field Worker's Guide
James Shipman(Author)
Pelagic Publishing
Published on 18. February 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
128 pages
978-1-78427-492-4 (ISBN)
Description
This book will help anyone understand the fun and adventures to be had working with these fascinating animals. Packed with insider information, it offers expert guidance on how to identify bats in the hand. As you learn the process of handling them safely, you will also discover the key features that distinguish one species from another.
Filling a gap between basic books and more technical volumes, this guide uses humour, mnemonics, rhymes and images as it communicates in simple terms the techniques required when training for a bat licence. Detailed images, diagrams and tables help in comparison between species, and the fundamentals of bat ecology and survey equipment are discussed. All British bat species are covered, as well as possible vagrants.
Warning: James's infectious enthusiasm for bats is likely to rub off - these fascinating mammals may well become an obsession.
Filling a gap between basic books and more technical volumes, this guide uses humour, mnemonics, rhymes and images as it communicates in simple terms the techniques required when training for a bat licence. Detailed images, diagrams and tables help in comparison between species, and the fundamentals of bat ecology and survey equipment are discussed. All British bat species are covered, as well as possible vagrants.
Warning: James's infectious enthusiasm for bats is likely to rub off - these fascinating mammals may well become an obsession.
Reviews / Votes
...ticks all the boxes... The inside cover has a list of the ID points to look out for on the bats, and the back cover has a quick ID chart to run down... If you enjoy birding on summer evenings, bats could become another reason to be out there. -- John Miles * Bird Watching Magazine * ...an accessible guide that covers both the technical side of identification and 'in the field' tips and tricks that are both memorable and fun... What is particularly helpful are the top quick identification guides in the flip-out section of the front and back covers. * Pest Magazine * This is a well-organized, easy to use book with excellent photographs, in the right places... well worth adding to the bat person's library. -- D. Paddy Sleeman * The Irish Naturalists' Journal * This concise, well-illustrated volume has a useful summary identification table on the inside of the front cover and a flow chart inside the back one... a useful book for those beginning in bat work. * In Practice *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Exeter
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
182 Illustrations, color
Dimensions
Height: 156 mm
Width: 109 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
336 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78427-492-4 (9781784274924)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
02/2025
Pelagic Publishing
€47.49
Available for download
Person
James Shipman is a lifelong bat enthusiast who loves to inspire and motivate future bat workers. He works as a senior ecologist and is involved in numerous bat-related projects. In 2016 he was recognised with the Bat Conservation Trust's Pete Guest Award for outstanding contribution to bat conservation.
Content
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction
2. Bat to basics
3. Experience and equipment
4. Handling and identification techniques
5. British and Irish species identification
Rhinolophidae
Greater Horseshoe Bat (GHS)
Lesser Horseshoe Bat (LHS)
Vespertilionidae
Common Pipistrelle
Soprano Pipistrelle
Nathusius' Pipistrelle
Noctule
Leisler's Bat
Serotine
Barbastelle
Brown Long-eared Bat (BLE)
Grey Long-eared Bat (GLE)
Daubenton's Bat
Natterer's Bat
Bechstein's Bat
Brandt's Bat
Whiskered Bat
Alcathoe Bat
Greater Mouse-eared Bat
6. Vagrants
Geoffroy's Bat
Kuhl's Pipistrelle
Parti-coloured Bat
Molossidae
European Free-tailed Bat
7. Picture library and ID crib
Further reading and useful resources
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction
2. Bat to basics
3. Experience and equipment
4. Handling and identification techniques
5. British and Irish species identification
Rhinolophidae
Greater Horseshoe Bat (GHS)
Lesser Horseshoe Bat (LHS)
Vespertilionidae
Common Pipistrelle
Soprano Pipistrelle
Nathusius' Pipistrelle
Noctule
Leisler's Bat
Serotine
Barbastelle
Brown Long-eared Bat (BLE)
Grey Long-eared Bat (GLE)
Daubenton's Bat
Natterer's Bat
Bechstein's Bat
Brandt's Bat
Whiskered Bat
Alcathoe Bat
Greater Mouse-eared Bat
6. Vagrants
Geoffroy's Bat
Kuhl's Pipistrelle
Parti-coloured Bat
Molossidae
European Free-tailed Bat
7. Picture library and ID crib
Further reading and useful resources