Red and grey squirrels can be told apart by looking at several features together, including body size, coat colour, ear tufts and tail appearance. Colour alone is not always reliable because both species can show some variation.
This guide explains the main differences between red and grey squirrels in the UK and the identification clues that are most useful when trying to tell them apart.
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Red Squirrel vs Grey Squirrel: Key Differences
The main differences between red and grey squirrels are their size, coat colour, ear tufts and tail appearance. No single feature is completely reliable on its own, particularly because coat colour can vary, so identification is stronger when several characteristics are considered together.
Red squirrels are generally smaller than grey squirrels and are well known for their ear tufts, while grey squirrels are usually larger and lack prominent ear tufts. Tail pattern and overall body proportions can provide additional clues when colour is unclear.
Red vs Grey Squirrel Size
Red squirrels are generally smaller and lighter than grey squirrels. The Wildlife Trusts gives red squirrels a body length of around 18–24 cm, compared with approximately 24–28.5 cm for grey squirrels. Grey squirrels are also typically heavier.
Size can be a useful clue, but it should not be used alone. A young grey squirrel may be similar in size to an adult red squirrel, so body size should be considered together with the ears, tail and coat.
Coat Colour and Colour Variation
Coat colour can help distinguish a red squirrel from a grey squirrel, but colour alone is not always reliable. Red squirrels can range from the familiar rusty or reddish-brown colour to much darker shades, while grey squirrels can sometimes show reddish or ginger tones.
This variation means that a squirrel with some red or brown fur is not automatically a red squirrel. Likewise, a darker-looking red squirrel should not be ruled out simply because its coat does not appear bright red.
Ear Tufts
Prominent ear tufts are one of the most useful features associated with red squirrels. Grey squirrels do not normally have the distinctive tufts seen on reds. However, red squirrels can lose or reduce their ear tufts during the summer moult, so their absence at certain times of year does not automatically indicate a grey squirrel.
For that reason, ear tufts work best as part of a wider identification check rather than as a single deciding feature.
Tail Appearance
The tail can provide another useful difference between red and grey squirrels. Grey squirrel tail hairs have bands of colour with pale or white tips, which can create a silvery or fringed appearance. Red squirrel tails can vary in colour but do not show the same banded hair pattern.
Viewed together with body size and the ears, this can be particularly helpful when coat colour is ambiguous.
How to Tell Red and Grey Squirrels Apart in the UK
The best way to tell red and grey squirrels apart is to compare several visible features together rather than relying on colour alone. Look at overall size, the presence or absence of ear tufts, tail pattern and coat variation before deciding which species you have seen.
This approach is more reliable than trying to identify a squirrel from a brief glimpse of one characteristic. Lighting, distance, age and seasonal changes can all affect how an individual animal appears.
Do Not Rely on Colour Alone
A red-looking squirrel is not necessarily a red squirrel. Grey squirrels can have reddish-brown areas in their coat, while red squirrels themselves can vary from pale or rusty shades to much darker brown, greyish or almost black colouring.
When colour creates uncertainty, check whether the squirrel is relatively small, whether it has visible ear tufts and whether the tail has the pale, banded appearance associated with a grey squirrel.
Use Several Features Together
Identification is strongest when several features point towards the same species. A smaller squirrel with characteristic ear tufts and a tail without the grey squirrel's pale-banded appearance is more consistent with a red squirrel, while a larger animal with no ear tufts and a silver-grey, pale-fringed tail is more consistent with a grey squirrel.
Be cautious when only one feature is visible. Young animals, seasonal moulting and natural coat variation can make individual squirrels less typical than expected.
Species identification is separate from confirming whether squirrels are using a property. If you have seen activity around the roof or found evidence indoors, check our guide to identifying squirrel activity in a loft or attic.
Sources: RSPCA – Squirrels; Red Squirrel Survival Trust – Red and Grey Squirrels: The Differences; The Wildlife Trusts – Red Squirrel; The Wildlife Trusts – Grey Squirrel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, grey squirrels can sometimes show reddish-brown or ginger tones in their coat. This is why colour alone is not a reliable way to distinguish a grey squirrel from a red squirrel. Size, ear tufts and tail appearance should also be considered.
Yes, red squirrel coat colour can vary considerably. Some individuals may appear dark brown, greyish or almost black rather than bright red, so identification should not depend only on the colour of the fur.
No, prominent ear tufts are not always visible throughout the year. Red squirrels can lose or reduce their ear tufts during seasonal moulting, which means their absence does not automatically indicate that the animal is a grey squirrel.
Red squirrels are generally smaller and lighter than grey squirrels. UK wildlife guidance gives red squirrels a shorter body length overall, although young grey squirrels can sometimes make size alone less reliable for identification.
The most reliable approach is to compare several features together. Look at body size, ear tufts, tail pattern and coat variation rather than relying on one feature. A brief glimpse or colour alone can easily lead to misidentification.