“Fox squirrels are the largest, with rusty-orange bellies and orange-edged tails. Gray squirrels are mid-sized with white bellies and white-fringed tails. American red squirrels are small, reddish, and loud, with a white eye ring. In Europe, the red squirrel is a different species known for its ear tufts.”
Squirrels are the rodents most of us see every day, yet many people can’t tell one species from another. Is that big orange-bellied squirrel at the bird feeder a red squirrel? Is a black squirrel its own species? Once you know what to look for, telling red, gray, and fox squirrels apart is easy, and each has a surprisingly different personality.
Wait, Which Red Squirrel?
The name “red squirrel” refers to two different animals:
- American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus): found across Canada, Alaska, the northern U.S., and the Rocky Mountains.
- Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris): found across Europe and northern Asia, including the UK.
They look similar but belong to different genera. We’ll cover both.
Comparison Chart
| Feature | Fox Squirrel | Eastern Gray Squirrel | American Red Squirrel | Eurasian Red Squirrel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1.1–2.2 lb | 0.9–1.3 lb | 0.4–0.55 lb | 0.55–0.75 lb |
| Total length | 18–27 in | 15–20 in | 11–14 in | 15–17 in |
| Back color | Grizzled orange-brown (varies) | Gray, sometimes black or brown-tinged | Rusty red-brown | Red to dark brown |
| Belly | Rusty orange | White | White | Cream or white |
| Tail edge | Orange-cinnamon | White “halo” | Dark band, reddish | Matches body |
| Signature feature | Largest size | White-fringed tail | White eye ring, loud chatter | Long ear tufts |
| Food storage | Scatter-hoards | Scatter-hoards | Large central middens | Mostly scatter-hoards |
Fox Squirrel
The fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) is the largest tree squirrel in North America. Its name comes from its fox-like coloring and bushy tail. Most fox squirrels in the Midwest are grizzled orange-brown with a rusty belly, but coloring varies by region. Some southern populations are dark with white faces, and black fox squirrels exist too.
Habitat: Open woodlands, oak savannas, farmland edges, and suburbs with scattered trees. Fox squirrels spend more time on the ground than gray squirrels.
Behavior: Fox squirrels tend to be calmer and slower-moving than grays, and they are often active later in the morning.
Eastern Gray Squirrel
The eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is the familiar park squirrel of the eastern U.S. and Canada. Its fur is gray on the back, sometimes with brownish tinges, and white underneath. The easiest identifier is the tail, whose long hairs have white tips that create a silvery halo.
Color forms: Many “black squirrels” are simply melanistic gray squirrels. White or leucistic gray squirrels are rarer but also occur in some towns.
Habitat: Mature hardwood forests, parks, and neighborhoods with large trees. Gray squirrels are expert climbers and very adaptable.
Behavior: Quick, alert, and acrobatic. Gray squirrels are famous for raiding bird feeders.
American Red Squirrel
The American red squirrel is small, bold, and loud. It has rusty red-brown fur, a white belly, and a distinctive white ring around each eye. In summer, a dark line often separates the red back from the white belly.
Habitat: Conifer and mixed forests, especially spruce and pine.
Behavior: Red squirrels are highly territorial. They defend their patch with loud chattering, rattling calls, and foot stamping, often scolding hikers who get too close.
Middens: Unlike grays and fox squirrels, red squirrels stash huge quantities of conifer cones in one central pile called a midden, which can grow large over many years.
Eurasian Red Squirrel
The Eurasian red squirrel is Europe’s native tree squirrel. Its most charming feature is long ear tufts, especially visible in winter. Coat color ranges from bright orange-red to dark brown or nearly black, depending on region.
Decline in the UK: In Britain, red squirrels have disappeared from much of their former range. The main causes are competition from eastern gray squirrels, which were introduced from North America in the 19th century, and squirrelpox, a virus that grays can carry without getting sick but that is usually fatal to reds. Today, red squirrels in the UK survive mostly in Scotland, parts of northern England, Wales, and a few islands, where conservation groups work to protect them.
How to Tell Them Apart in the Field
- Check the belly. Rusty orange means fox squirrel. White means gray or American red.
- Look at the tail edge. A white halo means gray. An orange fringe means fox.
- Judge the size. Fox squirrels look noticeably chunky. American reds look small and compact.
- Look at the eyes and ears. A white eye ring points to an American red. Tall ear tufts point to a Eurasian red.
- Listen. A loud, rattling scold from a conifer is very likely an American red squirrel.
Diet and Food Storage
All three are mostly plant eaters, feeding on nuts, seeds, buds, flowers, and fungi, with the occasional insect, egg, or baby bird. Their storage strategies differ. Gray and fox squirrels scatter-hoard, burying nuts one by one across their territory. The nuts they forget can sprout into new trees, making these squirrels important forest planters. American red squirrels larder-hoard, stockpiling food in middens.
Squirrels in the Rodent Family
Squirrels belong to the family Sciuridae, which also includes chipmunks, prairie dogs, groundhogs, and marmots. That makes the humble backyard squirrel a close cousin of the groundhog. See how those burrowers compare with the world’s largest rodent in our capybara vs groundhog and capybara vs marmot guides, or see where squirrels land on our rodent size comparison chart.
Squirrel Activities for Kids
If you have young squirrel fans at home, print our free squirrel coloring pages, then take them outside to spot the real thing and see if they can identify which species lives in your neighborhood. Our capybara coloring pages make a fun pairing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are red squirrels and gray squirrels the same species?
No. They are separate species, and in fact the American red squirrel belongs to a different genus from the eastern gray squirrel.
Do gray squirrels kill red squirrels?
Gray squirrels don’t usually attack reds directly. In the UK, they harm reds by outcompeting them for food and spreading squirrelpox virus.
Is a black squirrel a different species?
Usually not. Most black squirrels in North America are melanistic eastern gray squirrels, though black fox squirrels also exist.
Which squirrel is the biggest in North America?
The fox squirrel is the largest tree squirrel in North America. Ground-dwelling relatives like groundhogs are larger.