Article 70N10 Grisly recording reveals bat catching, killing and eating robin mid-flight

Grisly recording reveals bat catching, killing and eating robin mid-flight

by
Hannah Devlin Science correspondent
from Science | The Guardian on (#70N10)

Before the Spanish study, some scientists had been sceptical about the mammals attacking migratory birds

Bats are generally viewed as harmless, if spooky, creatures of the night. But scientists have revealed a more savage side, after witnessing a greater noctule bat - Europe's largest bat species - hunting, killing and devouring a robin mid-flight.

The grisly recording reveals the bat as a formidable predator, climbing to 1.2km (4,000ft) before embarking on a breakneck-speed dive in pursuit of its prey. On capture, the bat delivered a lethal bite and subsequent chewing sounds, recorded between echolocation calls, indicated that the bat consumed the bird continuously during flight for 23 minutes without losing altitude.

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