The Common Long-eared bat
(Plecotus auritus)
The Grey Long-eared
(Plecotus austriacus)

Plecotus alpinus

There is no difficulty in distinguishing the two Long-eared bats from all other european species, but telling them apart from each-other is really hard. It's only in the early sixties that those two middle size bats were finally separated. Both have huge ears joined at the base. At rest, the ears are often curled backwards, resembling a ram's horns, specially when the animal is disturbed. In winter, when the bat is torpid, the two big ears are carefully folded and tucked underneath the wings and only the tragus remains erected and pointing out. In flight the two big erected ears can clearly be seen. In enclosed spaces or around trees, Long-eared bats use a slow flight, with high maneuvrability.