Head to head
Black-Tailed Jackrabbit vs White-Tailed Jackrabbit
The black-tailed jackrabbit and white-tailed jackrabbit are both large, speed-reliant hares, but they occupy strikingly different climates within overlapping regions of the western United States.
| Black-Tailed Jackrabbit | White-Tailed Jackrabbit | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Lepus californicus | Lepus townsendii |
| Relative size | Smaller | Largest hare in North America |
| Climate adaptation | Heat-shedding ears for desert habitat | White winter coat for cold, snowy habitat |
| Habitat | Desert and grassland | Grassland and mountains |
| Seasonal coat change | Minimal | Turns almost entirely white in winter (northern populations) |
| Population trend | Stable | Decreasing |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Diet | Herbivore | Herbivore |
Black-Tailed Jackrabbit vs White-Tailed Jackrabbit: common questions
Which jackrabbit is bigger, the black-tailed or the white-tailed?
The white-tailed jackrabbit is larger, ranking as the largest hare species found anywhere in North America, while the black-tailed jackrabbit is somewhat smaller and better adapted to hot, lower-elevation desert habitat rather than the colder mountain grassland the white-tailed jackrabbit favours.
Why does only one of these jackrabbits turn white in winter?
The white-tailed jackrabbit occupies colder, often higher-elevation habitat across the northern parts of its range, where a white winter coat provides valuable camouflage against snow, while the black-tailed jackrabbit's warmer desert and lowland habitat rarely holds reliable snow cover, making a seasonal white coat unnecessary.
Do both jackrabbits rely on speed rather than burrows?
Yes, neither species digs burrows for shelter, and both rely instead on powerful legs and sudden direction changes to outrun predators across open terrain, a shared strategy that reflects their close relationship despite occupying such different climates.