evening bat

evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis)
Photo © Michael Durham

FEATURES
The evening bat is medium-sized with brown body fur. The belly fur is lighter than that of the back. The wings and ears are black. It has a short, curved tragus in its ear.

BEHAVIORS
The evening bat may be found statewide in Illinois. This species lives in buildings and trees. It flies slowly and begins flying before sunset, hunting the insects that are its prey. The evening bat probably does not hibernate in Illinois, flying further south for hibernation. Maternity colonies of female evening bats are present in Illinois. Young, usually two per female, are born in June. Young can fly about three weeks after birth and attain adult size after about six or seven weeks.

​Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Chiroptera
Family: Vespertilionidae