Mammals
Sika Deer
Cervus nippon · also called spotted deer
Giving an eerie, high-pitched whistle across a forest clearing, a sika deer sounds nothing like the deep roar of its larger relative the red deer, its white-spotted coat a feature many populations keep well into adulthood.
Overview
The sika deer, Cervus nippon, is a small deer native to forest and grassland habitat across Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, and parts of Russia. Its retained white spotting into adulthood, distinctive whistling rutting call, and tendency to hybridise with the closely related red deer make it one of the more genetically and behaviourally notable deer species found anywhere in East Asia.
A different voice for a different deer
While the red deer announces the rut with a deep, carrying roar, the sika deer takes an entirely different vocal approach, giving an eerie whistling or screaming call that makes the two closely related species easy to tell apart by sound alone.
Status
Least Concern, with native populations declining in parts of East Asia even as introduced populations elsewhere have thrived.
Sika Deer: common questions
Why does the sika deer keep its spots as an adult?
This species retains white spots on its summer coat into adulthood in many populations, unlike most temperate deer, which typically lose juvenile spotting as they mature into adults.
What does the sika deer sound like during the rut?
This species gives an eerie, high-pitched whistling or screaming call during the breeding season, a sound quite different from the deep, roaring call given by its close relative the red deer.
Can the sika deer interbreed with the red deer?
Yes, this species can hybridise with red deer in areas where introduced sika populations overlap with native red deer, a genetic mixing that conservationists monitor closely due to its potential impact on pure red deer populations.
Where is the sika deer originally from?
This species is native to East Asia, including Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, and parts of Russia, though it has been widely introduced to parts of Europe and North America.