[2] Its numbers are threatened due to habitat loss caused by humans, and the remaining populations are quite fragmented.

Genetic studies have found that it originated recently from lesser noctules which colonised the Azores, and has low levels of genetic divergence from its parent species.

It nevertheless is much smaller than the lesser noctule and weighs less, has darker fur and has a different frequency of echolocation calls (about 4–5 Hz higher), and is usually treated as a separate species.

[3] As opposed to other bats, the Azores noctule exhibits an unusually high frequency of diurnal flight, frequently hunting insects by day, although it is still most active at night.

Azores noctules still seem to exhibit some anti-predator behaviour, such as leaving their roosting sites in groups, but this may be related to foraging behaviour or non-avian predators such as rats.