Grey-headed Flying-fox Vulnerable 

What am I? 

This bat has a wingspan of up to a metre and weighs an average of 700 grams. 

The body is about 25 centimetres long while the forearms are between 14 to 18 

centimetres in length. Having arms longer than the body means that this fellow has 

longer wings than the body. The Grey-headed Flying-Fox is the largest Australian bat. 

This flying-fox lives up to its name and is covered in greyish fur all the way down to its 

toes. A collar of orange brownish fur surrounds its head. They live in groups called 

camps. 

Food 

They can cruise at 35 kilometres per hour for long periods and can fly up to 30 

kilometres from their camp in search of food. If there is not that much to eat they can 

fly up to 70 kilometres in search of food. 

This is a fruit and blossom eater that loves to eat food off the canopy of the forest. They like to eat the fruit of both native and introduced species trees and shrubs. 

Habitat 

In the day time it is found in camps, sometimes with the Black Flying Fox. Favourite camp site are mangroves and islands. 

One you is born between October to January. For the first four weeks, the mother carries the young. Specially curved milk teeth hold the nipple and sharp claws 

grip on to the mother. When they are older they are left behind in a special crèche. At about six months of age they fly with their mother to learn how to feed. 

Nomadic 

They fly to wherever trees are flowering and follow the flowering. 

In danger 

The Grey-headed Flying-fox is also endangered because of forest clearing. There is less native forest for this species to live in. The Grey-headed Flying-fox spreads 

pollen and seeds which helps native vegetation grow elsewhere. Their declining numbers may contribute to less native plant species 

The above information has been provided WIRES www.wires.org.au