Distributed in South Europe, northwestern Africa and Asia. From the Iberian Peninsula throughout the European Mediterranean area and the Balkans. In Bulgaria it is widespread.1
Small bat like the Common Pipistrelle bat but a little bigger. The dorsal fur is long, dark brown with intense golden or yellowish hair tips. The ventral side is well-delineated, the fur is white or yellowish-white. The ears are short, broad and mostly shiny black. The face and the flight membranes are dark brown. The tragus in the upper part is broader than in the Common Pipistrelle bat.
The QCF calls are up to 16 ms long with peak frequencies of 30 – 35 kHz; FM – QCF calls are with peak frequencies of 32 – 37 kHz. The calls are lower in all Pipistrellus species. Savi’s Pipistrelle bat has characteristic social calls of 20 – 500 ms long, mostly heard during the mating season from mid-August.
In rocky and karst areas, mountain pastures and meadows. In some regions it is adapted to urban areas and can be found within large cities. Probably a migratory species.
Rock and wall crevices and tree holes.
Nursery colonies comprise of 15 – 20 females with their pups. The largest colonies may consist of 40 – 70 animals. Females give birth at the beginning of June. Usually two young are born.
The flight is faster and more direct than other Pipistrellus species. Hunts over water basins, above karst valleys, forest – above tree crowns and shrubland. The food consists of small insects like moths, bugs, Hymenoptera and Diptera.
Building renovations and the use of pesticides that may get into the water in large quantities, are possible threats.
Christian Dietz and Andreas Kiefer (2014), “Bats of Britain and Europe”;
Vasil Popov, Atila Sedefchev (2003), “Mammals in Bulgaria”;
Vasil Popov, Nikolay Spasov, Teodora Ivanova, Borqna Mihaylova and Kiril Georgiev (2007), “Mammals important for conservation in Bulgaria”.