Yellow-necked mouse

Scientific name: Apodemus flavicollis

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Small rodent with yellowish-brown upperparts and white underparts; distinctive bright yellow or orange collar marking on chest and neck. Body length 8–10 cm with relatively long tail; weight 20–35 g with males typically larger than females.

Size and weight

Body 8–10 cm; weight 20–35 g (males 22–35 g, females 20–28 g).

Habitat

Found in deciduous and mixed woodlands, hedgerows, and scrubland across temperate Europe. Prefers areas with dense ground cover and leaf litter, from lowlands to mid-elevation forests.

Distribution

Range spans from Britain and France eastward through central Europe to the Caucasus and Urals. Occupies woodland edges, orchards, and mixed agricultural landscapes with adequate tree and shrub cover.

Diet

Omnivorous, feeding on seeds, nuts, berries, and insects; autumn diet shifts heavily toward acorns, hazelnuts, and beech mast when available.

Behaviour

Primarily nocturnal with crepuscular activity peaks at dusk and dawn. Solitary and territorial; excellent climbers that forage both on ground and in low vegetation; cache food in autumn.

Hunting tips

Look for small runways through leaf litter and droppings (3–5 mm, dark, rod-shaped) along woodland margins and under dense vegetation. Approach quietly during twilight hours when animals are most active; move slowly through cover to observe feeding signs and individual movements. Focus on mature woodland edges with berry-producing shrubs where concentrations gather in late summer.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.

Finland

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.