[6] Its species name "pipistrellus" is derived from the Italian word pipistrello, which means "bat."

In 1999,[7] it was formally split from the common pipistrelle based on differing echolocation signatures and a genetic divergence of 11%.

It is common in woodland and farmland but is also found in towns, where the females roost in lofts and buildings when rearing young.

Males will patrol these territories while "singing" to attract the attention of female bats as they travel to winter roosts.

Male courtship territories are densely-packed, offering female choice akin to a lek mating system.

[14] The litter size is usually one young, called a pup, though in some populations, twins are regularly produced.

[1] It occurs in the British Isles, southern Scandinavia, much of Continental Europe, and parts of Northwest Africa.

[1] It has been called the most common and abundant species of bat in Continental Europe and the United Kingdom.

Its decline in the UK has been attributed to loss of foraging habitat due to agriculture intensification.