[2] It was described in 1911 by Oldfield Thomas, but was later reclassified as conspecific with the grey long-eared bat (P. austriacus).

[3] The results of this study have been followed by the American Society of Mammalogists, the IUCN Red List, and the ITIS.

[1][2][4] It was named after Colonel A. E. Ward, an amateur naturalist and member of the Bombay Natural History Society.

It had been collected in Kangding, China at an elevation of 2,600 m (8,400 ft) above sea level, as part of the Duke of Bedford's Zoological Expedition, led by Malcolm Playfair Anderson.

It can be differentiated from other members of Plecotus by its large body size and darker fur.