When dusk settles over Brooklyn’s parks and neighborhoods, a hidden world comes alive. High above the streetlights and tree canopies, you’ll find some of the borough’s most fascinating residents—bats.
These remarkable flying mammals play a crucial role in controlling insect populations while navigating the urban landscape with extraordinary precision.
Brooklyn is home to seven distinct bat species, each with unique characteristics and behaviors. Whether you’re strolling through Prospect Park at twilight or enjoying a summer evening near Marine Park, you have the opportunity to witness these incredible creatures in action.
Understanding how to identify each species and where to find them transforms an ordinary evening walk into an exciting wildlife encounter.
Big Brown Bat
The big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) stands as one of Brooklyn’s most common and adaptable bat species. You’ll recognize this robust flyer by its chocolate-brown fur and impressive wingspan that can reach up to 13 inches. Unlike some of their smaller cousins, big brown bats have successfully adapted to urban life and often roost in buildings, under bridges, and in tree cavities throughout the borough.
These year-round residents don’t migrate, making them one of the few bat species you might spot during warmer winter days. Big brown bats typically weigh between 0.5 to 0.7 ounces and measure 4 to 5 inches in body length. Their fur appears glossy and uniform in color, with slightly paler undersides. The species has a large head with a broad nose and short, rounded ears that are distinctively black and hairless.
Where to find them: You’ll most likely encounter big brown bats hunting over open fields and water bodies in Prospect Park, particularly around the Lake and Long Meadow areas. They emerge shortly after sunset and can be spotted flying in relatively straight patterns as they hunt for beetles, flying ants, and other insects. Marine Park’s open spaces also provide excellent big brown bat watching opportunities, especially near Gerritsen Avenue.
Their hunting strategy involves flying at heights of 20 to 30 feet, using echolocation to detect prey. During summer months, female big brown bats form maternity colonies where they raise their young, typically giving birth to one or two pups in late May or early June. These bats can consume half their body weight in insects each night, making them valuable allies in natural pest control.
Little Brown Bat
Once the most abundant bat species in Brooklyn, the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) has faced dramatic population declines due to white-nose syndrome. Despite these challenges, you can still observe these small, agile flyers in several Brooklyn locations, particularly during their active season from July through September.
Little brown bats are noticeably smaller than their big brown cousins, with body lengths of only 3 to 4 inches and wingspans of 8 to 9 inches. Their fur ranges from pale tan to rich chocolate brown with a distinctive glossy sheen on their backs. The belly fur appears significantly lighter, often a pale gray color. These bats have relatively long, pointed ears and a small, delicate appearance that distinguishes them from the stockier big brown bat.
Where to find them: Marine Park has documented populations of little brown bats, making it one of the best locations in Brooklyn for observation. The Gotham Bat Conservancy has recorded their presence through acoustic monitoring in this area. You’ll want to position yourself near water features at dusk, as little brown bats prefer hunting over ponds and streams where flying insects congregate.
These bats fly in an erratic, highly maneuverable pattern as they pursue small insects like midges, mayflies, and caddisflies. Their flight speed reaches up to 22 miles per hour, and they can consume up to 1,000 insects per hour during peak feeding times. Little brown bats roost in tree cavities, under loose bark, and occasionally in buildings during summer months. They hibernate in caves and abandoned mines during winter, though you won’t find these hibernation sites within Brooklyn proper.
Eastern Red Bat
The eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis) brings a splash of vibrant color to Brooklyn’s bat community. This medium-sized species migrates through the borough, with peak sightings occurring from July through September when they stop to feed and rest during their seasonal journeys.
You can identify eastern red bats by their distinctive bright, rusty-red fur that gives them their name. Males display more vivid red coloring, while females appear more frosted or orange-brown with grayish tinges. Both sexes have prominent white shoulder patches that create a striking contrast against their colored fur. These bats measure 3.5 to 4.5 inches in body length with wingspans reaching 11 to 13 inches.
Where to find them: Prospect Park offers the best opportunities for spotting eastern red bats in Brooklyn. Look for them flying along the edges of wooded areas, particularly near the Midwood and around Lookout Hill. Unlike cave-dwelling species, eastern red bats are solitary tree roosters that hang from branches in dense foliage, where their coloring provides excellent camouflage against dead leaves.
Their flight pattern is distinctive—faster and more direct than little brown bats, often flying at greater heights. Eastern red bats typically emerge later in the evening compared to other species and hunt primarily for moths, beetles, and other flying insects. During the day, they roost in trees, hanging by one foot and looking remarkably like dead leaves swaying in the breeze. This camouflage strategy protects them from predators like hawks and owls.
Hoary Bat
Brooklyn’s largest bat species, the hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), impresses with its substantial size and striking frosted appearance. These migratory bats pass through Brooklyn during spring and fall migrations, though summer sightings remain relatively rare compared to other species.
The hoary bat’s name comes from the white-tipped or “hoary” guard hairs that create a frosted effect over their brown or grayish-brown fur. This silvery sheen is especially prominent on their backs and shoulders. They have distinctive yellowish fur around their throats and necks, creating a collar-like appearance. With wingspans reaching up to 16 inches and body lengths of 5 to 6 inches, hoary bats are truly impressive when spotted in flight.
Where to find them: Your chances of observing a hoary bat in Brooklyn are best during migration periods in Prospect Park’s more open areas, including Long Meadow and the fields near the Park’s perimeter. These bats prefer hunting in less cluttered airspace compared to smaller species. According to local birding groups, hoary bats have been occasionally spotted flying over the Lake at dusk during late summer months, though such sightings are considered noteworthy events.
Hoary bats are high-altitude flyers, often hunting 30 to 40 feet above ground or even higher. They target larger prey items including moths, beetles, and occasionally smaller bats. Their flight is strong and direct, with powerful wingbeats that carry them swiftly through the air. During the day, they roost in dense tree foliage, often in larger trees like oaks and maples. Unlike many bat species, hoary bats are solitary creatures that rarely form colonies.
Silver-Haired Bat
The silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans) adds another migratory species to Brooklyn’s bat diversity. These medium-sized bats feature distinctive coloring that makes them relatively easy to identify when you manage to spot one during their passage through the borough.
Silver-haired bats display blackish-brown to dark brown fur with striking silver-white tips on the hairs along their backs, creating a frosted or silvered appearance. This silvery sheen is most prominent on their upper body and becomes less noticeable on their undersides. They measure 3.5 to 4.5 inches in body length with wingspans of 10 to 12 inches. Their ears are short, rounded, and naked, while their interfemoral membrane (the skin between their tail and legs) is well-furred on the upper surface.
Where to find them: Prospect Park remains your best bet for encountering silver-haired bats in Brooklyn, particularly near wooded areas with abundant older trees. These bats strongly prefer forested habitats and are most commonly seen during spring and fall migration periods when they may roost on building exteriors or in tree bark for several days. The areas around the Vale of Cashmere and the Midwood section of Prospect Park provide suitable habitat.
Their flight pattern is relatively slow and steady compared to other bat species, often following regular foraging routes along forest edges and over water. Silver-haired bats typically emerge late in the evening to hunt for moths, flies, beetles, and other soft-bodied insects. They roost in tree cavities, beneath loose bark, and in rock crevices during the day. These bats are generally solitary or form small groups, rarely creating the large colonies seen in some other species.
Tri-Colored Bat
Formerly known as the eastern pipistrelle, the tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus) ranks as one of Brooklyn’s smallest and most delicate bat species. These diminutive flyers weigh less than a quarter of an ounce—about the weight of a nickel—yet they’re remarkably hardy and can survive in various habitats throughout the borough.
The tri-colored bat gets its name from the three distinct color bands visible on each hair shaft when examined closely—gray at the base, yellowish-brown in the middle, and dark brown at the tip. This gives their overall appearance a yellowish-brown or reddish-brown color with a slightly grizzled look. Their forearms, ears, and wing membranes appear pinkish rather than the darker brown seen in other species. Body length ranges from 2.8 to 3.5 inches with wingspans of 8 to 10 inches.
Where to find them: Marine Park has confirmed populations of tri-colored bats based on acoustic monitoring by the Gotham Bat Conservancy. These bats have also been documented in Forest Park, just beyond Brooklyn’s borders, suggesting their presence in similar Brooklyn habitats. Look for them near water sources at dusk, particularly around ponds, streams, and marshes where they hunt for small flying insects.
Tri-colored bats fly in a slow, erratic, butterfly-like pattern that distinguishes them from other species. They typically forage close to vegetation, often hunting within and around tree canopies rather than in open spaces. These bats emerge early in the evening, sometimes even before complete darkness, and may continue feeding throughout the night. They primarily consume small insects including mosquitoes, leafhoppers, and flying ants. Unfortunately, tri-colored bat populations have been severely impacted by white-nose syndrome, making every sighting particularly significant for conservation monitoring.
Northern Long-Eared Bat
The northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) represents one of Brooklyn’s rarest and most imperiled bat species. Classified as endangered due to devastating population losses from white-nose syndrome, these bats require careful protection and monitoring efforts throughout their remaining range.
True to their name, northern long-eared bats possess distinctively long ears that extend well beyond their nose when laid forward. These ears measure about 0.6 to 0.7 inches in length and help distinguish them from other similar-sized Myotis species. Their fur is medium brown on the back with lighter, buff-colored undersides. They have relatively long, pointed tragus (the small projection in front of the ear opening) and measure 3 to 4 inches in body length with wingspans of 9 to 10 inches.
Where to find them: Northern long-eared bats have been documented in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx through acoustic monitoring, suggesting they may occasionally venture into Brooklyn’s more forested areas. If present in Brooklyn, they would most likely be found in Prospect Park’s heavily wooded sections, particularly the Ravine and areas with older, larger trees that provide suitable roosting habitat. However, sightings in Brooklyn remain extremely rare.
These bats emerge well after dark and fly slowly and deliberately through forested areas. They excel at gleaning insects directly from foliage and tree bark rather than catching prey in mid-flight like many other species. Northern long-eared bats roost under loose tree bark, in crevices, and in small tree cavities during summer months. They form small maternity colonies of 30 to 60 females to raise their young. During winter, they hibernate in caves and mines, often in the coldest, most humid sections where white-nose syndrome poses its greatest threat.
Best Times and Locations for Bat Watching in Brooklyn
Prospect Park stands as Brooklyn’s premier location for bat watching, with at least five species regularly observed from July through September. Position yourself near the Lake, Nethermead, or Long Meadow just after sunset for the best viewing opportunities. The varied habitats within the park—open meadows, dense woodlands, and water features—attract different bat species with diverse hunting preferences.
Marine Park offers another excellent venue, particularly for observing little brown bats and tri-colored bats. The Gotham Bat Conservancy conducts regular acoustic monitoring here and has documented multiple endangered and threatened species. Join one of their bat walks, typically held at Seba Playground on Gerritsen Avenue, to learn from experts while experiencing these remarkable creatures firsthand.
Peak viewing season runs from early July through late September when bat activity reaches its height. Arrive at your chosen location about 15 to 20 minutes before sunset and watch the sky as darkness falls. Bats typically emerge when there’s still enough light to see their silhouettes against the sky. Look for them flying over open water, along tree lines, and around park lights that attract flying insects.
Bring binoculars to observe flight patterns and relative sizes that help with identification. Download a bat detector app on your smartphone to listen to echolocation calls—different species produce sounds at different frequencies. Most importantly, maintain a respectful distance and never attempt to touch or handle bats, as they can carry diseases and touching them causes stress that impacts their survival.
The conservation work happening in Brooklyn’s parks demonstrates a growing commitment to protecting these valuable urban wildlife populations.
Organizations like the Gotham Bat Conservancy are establishing bat sanctuaries in parks and community gardens throughout the borough, creating protected habitats with adequate roosting sites, natural food sources, and access to water.
By supporting these efforts and spreading awareness about the important role bats play in our ecosystem, you contribute to ensuring these seven remarkable species continue thriving in Brooklyn for generations to come.
