Mexican Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) is in the Free-tailed Bats family (Molossidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 4,378 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Mexican Free-tailed Bat: observations by month (U.S.)
About Mexican Free-tailed Bat
The Mexican free-tailed bat or Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) is a medium-sized bat native to the Americas, regarded as one of the most abundant mammals in North America. Its proclivity towards roosting in huge numbers at relatively few locations makes it vulnerable to habitat destruction in spite of its abundance. It has been claimed to have the fastest horizontal speed (as opposed to stoop diving speed) of any animal, reaching top ground speeds over 100 mphFrom Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Mexican Free-tailed Bat by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 2,046 | April | Feb–Oct |
| California | 916 | August | Mar–Oct |
| Florida | 607 | November | Feb–Nov |
| Arizona | 236 | June | Mar–Nov |
| New Mexico | 87 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Georgia | 58 | March | Jan–Oct |
| Utah | 58 | August | Jul–Sep |
| North Carolina | 57 | February | Nov–Apr |
| South Carolina | 57 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Alabama | 43 | February | Feb–May |
| Louisiana | 43 | March | Jan–Jun |
| Nevada | 43 | May | Mar–Jun |
| Mississippi | 38 | March | Jan–Mar |
| Oklahoma | 36 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Colorado | 15 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Oregon | 14 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Tennessee | 9 | February | Jan–Apr |
| Arkansas | 7 | June | Jun–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Photography tips
- Keep a legal and safe distance: 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals in national parks.
- Dawn and dusk are peak activity times for most mammals.
- Use your car as a blind on wildlife drives.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Mexican Free-tailed Bat?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from February to November.
Where is Mexican Free-tailed Bat most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, California, Florida.