White-Tailed Deer vs Black-Tailed Deer: What Are the Differences?

Deer come in many shapes and sizes despite seeming like monolithic creatures. In fact, several species and subspecies of deer are found throughout the world today. White-tailed deer are one of the most common in the Americas, but there are some less-known creatures, like black-tailed deer. Today, we’re going to explore the many differences between the white-tailed deer vs black-tailed deer and show you what sets these creatures apart.

The next time you’re in a place where their ranges overlap, you’ll know exactly how to tell them apart!

Comparing a White-Tailed Deer and a Black-Tailed Deer

The Key Differences Between a White-Tailed Deer vs Black-Tailed Deer

The greatest differences between a white-tailed deer and a black-tailed deer can be found in their morphology and size.

The white-tailed deer is larger than the black-tailed deer, weighing up to 405 lbs, while the black-tailed deer weighs 225 lbs at its maximum. Furthermore, the white-tailed deer stands up to 3.9 feet tall and grows 7.2 feet long, while the black-tailed deer stands up to 3.7 feet tall and 5 feet long.

The white-tailed deer is known for having a bushy brown tail with a white underside for which it is named, while the black-tailed deer has a shorter, less bushy, black tail. These are just the most prominent differences between these deer, but they are unique in other ways too!

White-Tailed Deer vs Black-Tailed Deer: Size

The white-tailed deer is larger than the black-tailed deer in every measure. The white-tailed deer measures 150 lbs to 405 lbs, grow 1.7 ft to 3.9 ft tall and measures 3.3 to 7.2 feet long. Meanwhile, the black-tailed deer weighs up to 225 lbs, grows 3.7 ft tall, and measures between 4 and 5.5 ft long!

White-Tailed Deer vs Black-Tailed Deer: Species

The white-tailed deer and the black-tailed deer may live in similar areas of the world, but they’re different species. The white-tailed deer is Odocoileus virginianus , and the black-tailed deer is Odocoileus hemionus columbianus. The black-tailed deer is a subspecies of the mule deer .

White-Tailed Deer vs Black-Tailed Deer: Morphology

White-tailed deer and black-tailed deer differ in many ways. The most apparent differences between these two deer lie in their tails. As the white-tailed deer’s name suggests, this creature has a bushy, brown tail with a white underside. They raise their tails in alarm when they detect threats.

However, the black-tailed deer has a black non-bushy tail. Another major difference between these two creatures is their antlers. White-tailed deer grow antlers off a single beam, but the black-tailed deer have antlers that fork off the main beam. Also, black-tailed deer have longer ears than white-tailed deer due to their closeness to the mule deer ancestry.

Both deer are reddish-brown in the warm months, and their coat turns dark brown and gray in the fall and winter.

White-Tailed Deer vs Black-Tailed Deer: Range

The white-tailed deer are more widespread than the black-tailed deer. White-tailed deer are found throughout most of North America . They live in the southern half of Canada except near the west coast and almost all of the U.S. except for the Southwest near the Rocky Mountains . These deer are found throughout all of Central America and portions of northern South America.

Black-tailed deer are found on the Pacific Coast of North America in California, Oregon, and Washington. They’re also in British Columbia, Canada, and portions of Alaska. So, these creatures have a small overlap in their range, but white-tail deer are much more widespread.

White-tailed deer tend to live in a variety of places . They can be found in meadows, forest edges, and fields. Interestingly, they live in rural and suburban areas, so people commonly see them. Black-tail deer live in forested mountainous areas, making them less common.

White-Tailed Deer vs Black-Tailed Deer: Diet

The white-tailed deer lives in many places, so it has access to many foods. They eat grass , nuts, forbs, mushrooms, and fruits. The black-tailed deer eats many of the same things as the white-tailed deer. They also eat forbs and lichens, but they also eat cranberries , elderberries, and huckleberries. White-tailed deer eat a greater variety of foods because they can access more foods.

All in all, the white-tailed deer and the black-tailed deer are very different creatures. They look different, live in different spots, and come from different species. They may look alike at first glance, but their unique qualities make it simple to tell them apart.

Up Next:

• Mule Deer vs Black-tailed Deer: What Are the Differences?
• Deer vs Reindeer: What Are 8 Key Differences?
• Where Do Deer Go In The Winter?

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