Bats are best

A DigitalNZ Story by Nick Butler

A tribute to the long-tailed bat, winner of the 2021 Bird of the Year title, despite not being, you know, a bird

bats, long-tailed bat, bird of the year, pekapeka, Chalinolobus tuberculatus, new zealand native mammals

Image: Great news for pekapeka! | New Zealand nature news

Great news for pekapeka! | New Zealand nature news

Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai

Image: Meet the Locals: Pekapeka

Meet the Locals: Pekapeka

Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai

Image: Long-tailed bat

Long-tailed bat

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Long-tailed bat

Long-tailed bat

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Wing of a long-tailed bat

Wing of a long-tailed bat

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: New Zealand Long-tailed Bat, Chalinolobus tuberculatus

New Zealand Long-tailed Bat, Chalinolobus tuberculatus

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Bats

Bats

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Lesser short-tailed bats and long-tailed bats

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Long-tailed and lesser short-tailed bats

Long-tailed and lesser short-tailed bats

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Habitat, distribution and conservation

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Bats

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Long-tailed Wattled Bat

Long-tailed Wattled Bat

iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao