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Roe Deer

What is roe deer?

· Emily Grant

Key facts

Scientific name Capreolus capreolus[1]
Family Cervidae[2]
Common names roe, western roe deer, European roe[1]
Male name roebuck[1]
Habitat woodland, farmland, occasionally urban areas[4]
Size length 0.9–1.3m; shoulder height 60–75cm[5]

Roe deer is a small Eurasian deer species, scientifically known as Capreolus capreolus, belonging to the family Cervidae.

Context

Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is a small Eurasian deer in the family Cervidae [2]. They are the smaller of the two native deer species in Britain [3] and the most common among the six species inhabiting the British Isles [3]. Found throughout mainland Britain but absent from Ireland [4], they primarily live in woodland but also feed in fields and farmland [4]. As browsers, they eat tree shoots, leaves, herbs, brambles, ivy, and other woody plants [4]. Roe deer are often confused with the Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus), a separate species [2]. They are smaller than other deer like the red deer and differ from the introduced muntjac and white-tailed deer in size and habitat preferences.

Documented claims

  • Roe deer are the smaller of the two native deer species in Britain. [3]
  • Roe deer are the most common deer among the six species that inhabit the British Isles. [3]
  • Roe deer are found throughout mainland Britain and are absent from Ireland. [4]
  • Roe deer are primarily a woodland species, but they will venture into fields and farmland to feed. [4]
  • Roe deer are browsers and feed on tree shoots, leaves, herbs, brambles, ivy, and other woody plants. [4]

Related

Mule DeerA reader interested in roe deer may want to compare it with other deer species like the mule deer.Chinese Water DeerA reader interested in roe deer may want to compare it with other small deer species like the Chinese water deer.Mouse DeerA reader interested in roe deer may want to compare it with other small deer-like species.

Questions and answers

What is special about roe deer?

Roe deer are the most common deer in the British Isles and are smaller than the other native species, the red deer [3].

What is the difference between a roe deer and a red deer?

Roe deer are smaller than red deer; they are the smaller of the two native deer species in Britain [3].

What is another name for a roe deer?

Roe deer are also called European roe deer or western roe deer [1].

Sources

  1. Roe deer — mammal.org.uk (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) — woodlandtrust.org.uk (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Roe deer — wildlifetrusts.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. ROE DEER: SPECIES, CHARACTERISTICS, BEHAVIOR ... — factsanddetails.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  5. Roe Deer Facts | Wildlife & Flora in the Cotswolds — nathab.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Nature