Squirrel in Colorado, US (1 Viewer)

O

orientaldkf

Well-known member

• Jun 22, 2018

• #1

Hi all, saw this squirrel and I'm not too sure about the ID. Based on elimination of the squirrel species that can be found in Colorado the closest thing I found was the american red squirrel. However I was wondering if it could be a eastern grey squirrel given its relatively greyish coat (read that the eastern grey squirrel's range could extend into the western US although uncommmon?). Thanks in advance!

 

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Last edited: Jun 22, 2018

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Jun 22, 2018

• #2

Hadn't realised it could be so tricky to separate Red from Grey.



A

 

Last edited: Jun 22, 2018

Farnboro John

Well-known member

• Jun 22, 2018

• #3

My feeling is that this is American Red Squirrel. In Colorado/Wyoming we found them variable in appearance but the pale eye markings were consistent and the tail is proportionately shorter than an Eastern Grey's (and usually less bushy, it seemed to me).

John

 

Andy Adcock

Worst person on Birdforum

• Jun 22, 2018

• #4

Farnboro John said:

My feeling is that this is American Red Squirrel. In Colorado/Wyoming we found them variable in appearance but the pale eye markings were consistent and the tail is proportionately shorter than an Eastern Grey's (and usually less bushy, it seemed to me).

John

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Do American Reds, all lack the ear tufts John?


A

 

Farnboro John

Well-known member

• Jun 22, 2018

• #5

andyadcock said:

Do American Reds, all lack the ear tufts John?


A

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The ones we saw did.

John

 

O

orientaldkf

Well-known member

• Jun 23, 2018

• #6

Thanks for the inputs! Just stumbled across this link (http://www.northernredsquirrels.org.uk/report-sightings/red-or-grey/) and now I'm leaning towards grey because of the halo effect they described for the tail. Would that be diagnostic? I do realise that the species in UK are different though so there might be some differences.

 

Farnboro John

Well-known member

• Jun 23, 2018

• #7

orientaldkf said:

Thanks for the inputs! Just stumbled across this link (http://www.northernredsquirrels.org.uk/report-sightings/red-or-grey/) and now I'm leaning towards grey because of the halo effect they described for the tail. Would that be diagnostic? I do realise that the species in UK are different though so there might be some differences.

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I have seen European and American Red Squirrels and both Eastern and Western Grey Squirrels, and your photos are of a greyish (grayish if you must) American Red Squirrel. The proportions of the animal - relatively short tail, combination of features indicating it is not large - and the eye markings as well as the fur colour being wrong for Eastern Grey - indicate this clearly.

The halo effect is a red herring: any squirrel tail will show it with backlighting.

Your pictures show American Red Squirrel. One of mine is attached for reference.

John

 

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O

orientaldkf

Well-known member

• Jun 23, 2018

• #8

Alright thanks for the clarification, appreciate it!

 

Farnboro John

Well-known member

• Jun 23, 2018

• #9

orientaldkf said:

Alright thanks for the clarification, appreciate it!

Click to expand...

Glad to help. Solving puzzles is part of the hobby's attraction I think.

Cheers

John

 

StuartReeves

Local rarity

• Jun 23, 2018

• #10

Agree with John, the original photos show an American red squirrel.