Squirrels come in a variety of colors including brown, grey, black, and even white. The most common colors for squirrels worldwide are brown and grey. This depends on the species, with Eastern gray squirrels being predominantly grey and Eurasian red squirrels being mostly brown. Within species there can also be variation, with some squirrels being brownish-grey or reddish-brown.
Squirrels are rodents found all over the world except Australia and Antarctica. There are over 200 species of squirrels divided into three main groups – tree squirrels, ground squirrels, and flying squirrels. Tree squirrels such as the Eastern gray squirrel and Eurasian red squirrel are the most familiar and commonly seen in backyards and parks. When people think of squirrels, they often wonder – are squirrels brown or grey? The answer is that it depends on the species, but both brown and grey squirrels are very common.
Are Eastern Gray Squirrels Brown or Grey?
The Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is predominantly found in the eastern and midwestern United States as well as southeastern Canada. As the name suggests, Eastern gray squirrels have predominantly grey fur. Their fur can range from a silver-gray to a salt-and-pepper mix of black and white hairs. The underside of their body is generally white or pale gray. While Eastern grays are mostly grey, they can also have brownish hues, especially in winter when the fur takes on a browner tinge. The fur around their paws and head is also sometimes brownish. So while Eastern gray squirrels are mostly grey, they can take on hints of brown in some body parts or seasons.
Are Eurasian Red Squirrels Brown or Grey?
The Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is found throughout northern Europe and Russia as well as parts of northern Asia. In the British Isles, it is simply called the “red squirrel”. As suggested by the names, Eurasian red squirrels have predominantly reddish-brown fur over most of their bodies. This can range from a light brown to a more reddish-chestnut brown color. Their underside is generally white/cream in color. While the Eurasian red squirrel is mostly brown, they can sometimes appear more greyish in color during winter when the fur takes on a more grizzled appearance. The fur around their paws and ears may also be black/grey. So while Eurasian reds are mostly brown, they can take on hints of grey in some body parts or seasons.
Other Common Squirrel Colors
While grey and brown are the most common squirrel colors, some species exhibit other shades:
– Black squirrels are found in certain populations of Eastern gray squirrels and red squirrels. Their black fur is the result of increased melanin.
– Fox squirrels native to North America can be brownish-grey, brownish-orange, or brownish-yellow.
– Ground squirrels like chipmunks are often reddish-brown, grayish-brown, or mottled in color.
– Flying squirrels tend to be brownish-grey or reddish-brown.
– Alpine marmots that live in mountainous European regions are grey with reddish-brown legs.
– Pale gray or even white squirrels also occur in some populations due to genetic variations.
So while brown and grey are the most common, squirrels can come in a rainbow of other colors too depending on the species!
What Determines a Squirrel’s Color?
A squirrel’s coloration is due to several factors:
Genes: The different genetic lineages of squirrels produce the basic coat colors like grey, red/brown, or black. Certain populations have more variation in genes that control fur pigments.
Habitat: Tree squirrels that live in dark forested areas tend to have more grayish and dark-colored fur for camouflage. Squirrels in more open woodlands and parklands lean towards browner hues.
Seasons: Fur can fade over seasons, causing color changes throughout the year. Winter coats are often more drab and grizzled.
Age: Young squirrels may start off with a grayer coat that darkens to a brownish hue with maturity.
Dirt/Oils: Fur color can be influenced by dirt, oils, and carotenoid pigments from food sources like pine nuts.
So a combination of genetic, environmental, and dietary factors interact to produce the variations in squirrel fur from brown to grey.
Do Squirrels Change Color with Seasons?
Squirrel fur can undergo seasonal color changes but doesn’t completely change from one shade to another. Here are some color variations:
– In winter, the fur becomes thicker and grizzled, muting the tones. Reds and browns appear duller while greys get a brownish wash.
– Summer coats are thinner and glossier, making brown squirrels more russet and greys more silvery.
– Fur fades over time before molting, contributing to color changes across seasons.
– Ear tufts and paws may darken in winter for extra insulation.
– Young squirrels tend to be paler in color before their adult fur grows in.
So while squirrel fur can fluctuate from grey to brownish or reddish to duller, the overall color remains largely consistent. A brown squirrel doesn’t turn grey in winter or vice versa. Seasonal factors simply affect the tint and shading of the existing coloration.
Do Squirrels Change Color as They Age?
Baby squirrels generally have fuzzy, pale gray fur compared to the adult coat. As they grow older, the fur takes on the characteristic color of the species whether grey, brown or black. Within the first year the juvenile coat is shed and replaced with mature adult fur. Once this happens, there are only minor yearly color changes related to fading and seasonal variations. An old squirrel past its prime may show some graying but its fur doesn’t dramatically change color with advanced age. The reddish-brown stays reddish-brown while the salt-and-pepper greys remain mostly grey.
Grey vs. Brown Squirrel Species
Here are some of the most common brown and grey squirrel species:
Grey species:
– Eastern gray squirrel – silvery-gray to salt-and-pepper mix
– Western gray squirrel – blue-gray with white underside
– Arizona gray squirrel – pale gray with a white belly
– Tassel-eared squirrel – blue-gray with large tufts on ears
Red/brown species:
– Eurasian red squirrel – red, chestnut brown or brownish-grey
– Eastern fox squirrel – brownish-orange to brownish-gray
– Red-tailed squirrel – orange-brown with white venter
– Irving’s squirrel – grizzled orange-brown coloration
– Variegated squirrel – brownish with white spots/stripes
Other colors:
– Alpine marmot – grey with brown legs and head
– Black squirrel – all-black fur
– Flying squirrels – brownish-grey or reddish-brown
So while many squirrels are distinctly grey or distinctly brown, there is often variation within species as well as range of colors across different types of squirrels.
Geographic Distribution of Grey and Brown Squirrels
Whether squirrels appear brown or grey depends somewhat on their geographic location:
Predominantly grey squirrels:
– Eastern gray squirrel – eastern/midwestern North America
– Western gray squirrel – western coastal North America
– Arizona gray squirrel – southwestern United States
– Tassel-eared squirrel – western North America
Predominantly brown squirrels:
– Eurasian red squirrel – Europe, northern Asia, Siberia
– Irving’s squirrel – northern South Asia
– Indian palm squirrel – India, Sri Lanka
– Red-tailed squirrel – Southeast Asia
– Variegated squirrel – Southeast Asia
However, there are exceptions where brown and grey squirrels overlap ranges or share habitat, such as fox squirrels and gray squirrels in the eastern United States. Global introductions have also increased the overlap, like Eastern grays being introduced to Europe. In general though, greys are more prevalent in certain regions while browns dominate in others.
Typical Habitats of Brown and Grey Squirrels
The habitats where squirrels are found also relate to whether species tend towards grey or brown. Here are some habitat tendencies:
More grey squirrels:
– Mixed oak-conifer forests – Western gray squirrels
– Pine forests interspersed with hardwoods – Arizona grays
– Flooded forests along rivers – Tassel-eared squirrels
– Urban parks and wooded neighborhoods – Eastern grays
More brown squirrels:
– Coniferous boreal forests – Eurasian red squirrels
– Tropical rainforests – Irving’s squirrels, variegated squirrels
– Arid woodlands – Fox squirrels
– Palm groves – Indian palm squirrels
However, there is crossover. Eastern fox squirrels and Eastern gray squirrels may inhabit the same broadleaf forests, for example. The habitat tendencies reflect preferences but squirrel colors are ultimately more dependent on the species than the environment. A brown squirrel doesn’t turn grey when moving from a tropical habitat to a temperate one. But habitat does play a role in which species and colors naturally occur in different ecosystems.
Camouflage and Fur Color
A squirrel’s fur color aids its ability to blend into the environment and avoid predators. Here are some examples:
– Gray squirrels have better camouflage against the bark of mature trees in forests. Their mottled gray and black fur resembles the lichen-covered trunks.
– Red squirrels match the pine branches and reddish bark of coniferous habitats better than grey would.
– Ground squirrels have fur in earth-tone browns, tans, and mottled mixes that disguise them against the forest floor.
– Black squirrels blend into dark wooded areas and may gain thermal benefits in colder northern climates from the extra melanin.
– White squirrels, though rare, camouflage well in snowy winter environments.
So both grey and brown fur can provide effective camouflage depending on the ecosystem. In general, greys blend better against hardwoods while browns disappear against pines and among the leaf litter below.
Diet Influences on Squirrel Fur Color
The foods a squirrel eats can impart subtle color changes due to carotenoids and other pigments:
– Pine nuts have carotenoids that produce red and orange hues. This enhances the reddish fur of red squirrels.
– Walnuts contain chemicals like juglone that cause browner discoloration. Grey squirrels may get a brownish cast from eating walnuts.
– Squirrels with diets high in maples and sap often get stained yellow feet. The sugar compounds cause yellowish secretions.
However, diet has minor effects compared to genetics and seasons. A better food supply may make fur glossier but won’t radically alter the underlying coloration from grey to brown or vice versa.
Genetic Mutations Affecting Squirrel Color
Some unusual squirrel fur colors arise from genetic mutations:
– Albino squirrels have a total lack of pigment causing all-white fur.
– Melanistic squirrels have extra dark pigment resulting in black fur.
– White squirrels with dark eyes have a mutation causing partial albinism.
– Color dilution in fox squirrels produces pale brownish-yellow shade.
These color aberrations are relatively rare. Without the mutations, squirrels maintain their characteristic brownish or grayish hues dictated predominantly by their species lineage.
Influence of Lighting on Perceived Color
The effects of sunlight can also change how squirrel fur color is perceived:
– Morning and evening light casts a warmer golden glow that makes grays appear browner.
– Bright overhead midday sun brings out cooler blue undertones enhancing the grayish look.
– Shaded conditions mute the saturation of browns and reds.
– Artificial night lighting washes out natural tones giving a flat grayish appearance.
So lighting can make the same squirrel look browner or grayer. But it’s important to note these are optical effects not actual color changes in the fur.
Conclusion
While individual squirrels may show subtle seasonal fluctuations or lighting effects, their fur color is primarily fixed based on species characteristics. The most common squirrel colors are grey and brown. Greys like the Eastern gray squirrel predominantly inhabit temperate broadleaf forests. Browns like the Eurasian red squirrel mostly live in northern coniferous forests. But there are exceptions where habitat ranges overlap. The key to answering “are squirrels brown or grey?” is to look at the specific species and its associated genetic lineage, which dictates the squirrel’s basic fur color as grey, brown, black or otherwise. Environmental factors can then influence the precise shading and patterns. But in general, squirrel color is dictated more by ancestry than habitat or diet. A squirrel’s fundamental color generally remains either grey or brown throughout its lifetime.
| Species | Region | Habitat | Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern gray squirrel | Eastern North America | Broadleaf forests | Silvery gray to salt-and-pepper fur |
| Eurasian red squirrel | Europe, Northern Asia | Coniferous boreal forests | Reddish-brown or chestnut brown fur |
| Fox squirrel | North America | Broadleaf or pine woodlands | Brownish-gray to brownish-orange fur |