![]() The main distinguishing features which separate grey and red squirrels apart from their colour and size is that grey squirrel’s heads appears more rat like with smaller ears and no erect tufts of fur. ![]() They have excellent vision as their eyes are set in the sides of their heads allowing for a very wide field of view. Grey squirrels are a vocal species of rodent making numerous calls resembling a low tuk tuk noise when communicating, they also use foot stamping and tail flicking to signal other squirrels. Movement while on the ground is hesitant with bounding leaps in between periods of standing on the hind legs to scan their surroundings. The fore feet are four-toed with the larger hind foot having five digits measuring up to 7.5cm in length. Adult grey squirrels are similar in weight with the females being slightly heavier at 700 grams with males reaching up to 650 grams, both sexes will experience seasonal variations in their weight which is at its lowest in spring and can be 25% less than in Autumn when their main food source is abundant. They are larger and have a more stocky appearance than the Irish red squirrel measuring up to 50cm in length which includes a long bushy tail of up to 25cm. The grey squirrel’s tail will have a white tip in summer before turning darker in winter. They moult their coats twice a year, first in winter and then in summer but only moult their ear tufts and tail once yearly. Grey squirrels have grey fur on their backs and sides with a white underbelly and a reddish chestnut coloured tinge all over in summer.
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