Echolocation Calls and Field Identification of the Eastern Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus subflavus: Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), Using Ultrasonic Bat Detectors

Abstract

In the field, Pipistrellus subflavus produces 5-ms-long, broadband, echolocation calls when flying in search of airborne prey. These calls typically have two strong harmonics, the first with energy between 35 and 19 kHz and the second with energy between 70 and 38 kHz. To an observer with two narrowband bat detectors, one tuned to 40 kHz and the other to 20 kHz, echolocation calls of P. subflavus are distinct from those of other sympatric species in the northern part of its geographic range.