The hoary bat is a long-distance migrant that can travel up to about 1,000 kilometres between Canada and the United States.
The hoary bat, Lasiurus cinereus, is one of North America’s most wide-ranging bats. Many individuals spend the warmer months in Canada and the northern United States, then move south in autumn, often toward the southern United States or Mexico. The species is recognizable by its frosted-looking fur, which gives it the name “hoary.”
Tracking studies have documented journeys exceeding 1,000 kilometres, although routes and distances vary among individuals. Some hoary bats migrate at night and may cross large areas while following insect prey, favourable winds and seasonal conditions. Their movements remain less completely understood than those of many birds.
Little brown bats also migrate, but often over shorter distances and with different winter strategies. Mexican free-tailed bats are famous for enormous colonies and seasonal movements, yet the Canada-to-U.S. long-distance clue most directly points to the hoary bat.