Red Deer (Cervus elaphus)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Cervus ("deer") elaphus ("deer")

Herd of Red Deer (subspecies C. e. scoticus) at Haweswater, Cumbria - April 2011

Featured Subspecies: Cervus elaphus scoticus
Weight: 160-240kg  /  Length: 201cm 
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The Red Deer holds many size related records in the UK - it is the biggest extant land animal in the UK and the fourth largest deer in the world. They are one of only two native deer to the UK (along with the Roe, all others have been introduced) and are probably about the easiest to see if you are in the right place - they favour open country a lot more than the rest of the species which prefer woodland. Particularly common in the North of the country in mountainous and hilly country where it is often managed for shooting estates.

Related Species:
Order: Artiodactyla 
Family: Cervidae 
Genus: Cervus 
SUBSPECIES: C. e. elaphus, C. e. alashanicus, C. e. atlanticus, C. e. barbarus, C. e. brauneri, C. e. canadensis, C. e. corsicanus, C. e. hanglu, C. e. hispanicus, C. e. kansuensis, C. e. macnelli, C. e. maral, C.e. nannodes, C. e. pannoniensis, C. e. scoticus, C. e. songaricus, C. e. wallichii, C. e. xanthopygus, C. e. yarkandensis

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A locally abundant resident

 - Seen around Haweswater

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

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Eurasian Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

OTHER NAMES: Red Squirrel
Latin Etymology: Sciurus ("squirrel") vulgaris ("common") 

Adult Eurasian Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) at Vienna, Austria - October 2024

Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: 10-15g  /  Length: 34-43cm
UK STATUS NOT EVALUATED/ IUCN Red List: Least Concern

The indiginous tree squirrel of Europe, the Red Squirrel is somewhat paradoxical in that overall it has an enormous range but within the UK specifically it is significantly struggling due to competition with the non-native grey squirrel which outcompetes it and carries pathogens which are fatal to reds. The result has led to a catastrophic population collapse and Reds are largely extipirated from England. While the population in the UK does have the namesame red fur, other populations are more variable into black, grey and brown such as the individual pictured above.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia 
Family: Sciuridae 
Genus: Sciurus 
SUBSPECIES: S. v. alpinus, S. v. altacaicus, S. v. anadyrensis, S. v. arcticus, S. v. balcanicus, S. v. chiliensis, S. v. cinerea, S. v. dulkeiti, S. v. exalbidus, S. v. fedjushini, S. v. fusconigricans, S. v. leucourus, S. v. lilaeus, S. v. mantchuricus, S. v. martensi, S. v. ognevi, S. v. orientis, S. v. rupestris, S. v. ukrainicus, S. v. varius, S. v. vulgaris

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A localised and declining resident
 - Seen in the Lake District

AUSTRIA - Austrian: esguilu - "Squirrel"

Common resident

 - VIENNA 2024: Seen in Vienna  

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

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