Eastern Gray Squirrel vs Fox Squirrel
Gray squirrel or fox squirrel?
The quick tell
Color and size do most of the work. An Eastern Gray Squirrel is smaller, gray above with a white or pale belly, and its bushy tail is frosted with white-tipped hairs. A Fox Squirrel is clearly bigger, with a rusty-orange belly and a tail washed the same warm orange, and no white frosting.
Field marks, side by side
| Eastern Gray Squirrel | Fox Squirrel | |
|---|---|---|
| Belly | White or pale gray | Rusty orange to buff |
| Tail edge | Frosted with white-tipped hairs | Edged and washed orange, no white frost |
| Size | Smaller and lighter | Largest tree squirrel in North America |
| Habitat | Dense woods, suburbs, city parks | Open woodland, edges, and scattered trees |
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Get Huck - freeCommon questions
Is a black squirrel a different species?
Usually not. Most black squirrels are Eastern Gray Squirrels with a dark color form, common in some northern cities and towns. Fox squirrels also vary a lot in color, from gray to rust to nearly black in parts of the South.
What is the fastest field mark?
Belly and tail color. A warm rusty-orange belly and an orange-washed tail mean a fox squirrel; a pale belly and a white-frosted tail mean a gray squirrel. Size backs it up once you have seen both, since the fox squirrel is noticeably larger.