Bats of Colorado > Tri-colored bat (formerly eastern pipistrelle) (Perimyotis subflavus)
Slightly larger than the canyon bat, the tri-colored bat is readily distinguished by its tri-colored dorsal hairs, dark brown at tips and bases with a band of yellow between. Measurements include: total length, 70-90, forearm, 30-35, wingspan about 210; weight 5-8 g.
This is a bat of eastern North America, ranging from Nova Scotia and Minnesota south to Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. There are a couple records of this bat from eastern Colorado.
The tri-colored bat is an animal of open deciduous forests. The animals are not strongly migratory, typically spending the summer in the same general region as the hibernaculum.
Adults in reproductive condition have been captured in the southeastern U.S. in winter and spring. Twin births are the rule in late spring or early summer.
Tri-colored bats emerge early, while still light, to forage in clearings or over still water for smaller insects, including moths, flies and beetles.
The number of records of this species in Colorado suggest that until information to the contrary develops, the conservative course is to consider it an accidental occurrence.Return to top
Armstrong, D. M., R. A. Adams, and K. E. Taylor. 2006. New records of the eastern pipistrelle (Pipistrellus subflavus) in Colorado. Western North American Naturalist 66:268-269.
