European rabbit

Scientific name: Oryctolagus cuniculus

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Uniform grey-brown to reddish-brown fur with a white underside and distinctive white tail patch visible when bolting. Adults are stockier and more robust than hares, with shorter ears relative to head size.

Size and weight

Adults weigh 1.5–2.5 kg; body length 34–50 cm. Males and females are similar in size, though females may be slightly heavier.

Habitat

European rabbits inhabit open grasslands, scrubland, heathland, and light woodland edges with well-drained soil suitable for burrowing. They prefer areas with good visibility and nearby escape cover, typically from sea level to 1500 m elevation.

Distribution

Native to southwestern Europe and North Africa; now widespread across Europe, Australia, and parts of South America. Within range, they favour grasslands with loose, friable soil that permits deep burrow networks.

Diet

Rabbits graze on grasses, clover, and herbaceous plants year-round, supplementing with bark, roots, and cultivated crops when preferred vegetation becomes scarce in winter.

Behaviour

Crepuscular and nocturnal, most active at dawn and dusk; they rest in underground warren systems during daylight. Highly social, living in loose colonies; when alarmed, they flee to burrows with characteristic zigzag runs and white tail flash.

Hunting tips

Look for well-worn paths, fresh droppings (small, dark pellets), and burrow entrances clustering in banks or open ground. Approach into wind across open ground during low-light hours; rabbits rely on speed and burrow proximity, so position between feeding areas and warren entrances. Use a wide, patient stalk; a sudden appearance will send them bolting.

Whole weight

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

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 22 countries in Huntify.

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.