Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Sylvilagus ("forest hare") floridanus ("of Florida")

Young Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) at St Charles, Illinois, USA - July 2024

Featured Subspecies: Sylvilagus floridanus mearnsi
Weight: 800-2000g  /  Length: 36-48cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The most common rabbit species of the Eastern USA, unlike European Rabbits they rest in shallow dug out scrapes named forms like Brown Hares do rather than digging burrows. They are found across the entire Eastern United States except the most Northerly corner of New England, and their range extends into Central and South America.

Related Species:
Order: Lagomorpha
Family: Leporidae
Genus: Sylvilagus
SUBSPECIES: S. f. alacer, S. f. ammophilus, S. f. avius, S. f. aztecus, S. f. champmani, S. f. chiapensis, S. f. connectens, S. g. continentis, S. f. continentis, S. f. costaricensis, S. f. cumanicus, S. g. floridanus, S. f. hitchensi, S. f. hondurensis, S. f. llanensis, S. f. mallurus, S. f. margaritae, S. f. mearnsi, S. f. nelsoni, S. f. nigronuchalis, S. f. orinoci, S. f. orizabae, S. f. paulsoni, S. f. purgatus, S. f. restrictus, S. f. russatus, S. f. similis, S. f. subcinctus, S. f. superciliaris, S. f. valenciae, S. f. yucatanicus

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED STATES - Found throughout the Eastern half of the Lower 48
 - CHICAGO TO ALASKA ROADTRIP 2024: Seen in Illinois

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto