Rabbit vs Hare

Rabbits and hares are close relatives in the same family, and common names add confusion for anyone trying to sort out a sighting. In North America, cottontails and pygmy rabbits are rabbits, while jackrabbits and snowshoe hares are hares. So a jackrabbit is not a rabbit at all.

Hares rely on speed in open ground, so they are larger and long-legged, with longer ears that are often black-tipped. Rabbits depend on cover and short bursts to reach a hiding place. Their babies are altricial: born helpless in a fur-lined nest, while hare young arrive furred and ready to move.

Rabbit vs Hare side by side

Last verified October 2026. Typical values; individual animals, products and local prices vary.

When you are looking at which

Rabbit

• The animal is small, about 1 to 3 pounds, with short ears and short hind legs.
• You find babies that are naked and blind in a fur-lined nest.
• It bolts into thick brush or a hole when startled.
• It is a cottontail, pygmy rabbit or domestic bunny.

Hare

• The animal is large, long-legged, with long ears that may show black tips.
• You see a baby already furred with open eyes lying in a shallow ground depression.
• It runs in long leaps across open ground instead of hiding.
• It is a jackrabbit or snowshoe hare, even though common names say rabbit.

How this works

The quiz combines newborn condition, nest type, ear length, weight and escape behavior. Each answer points to rabbit or hare, and the side with more answers wins. A close score is reported as too close to call, so check the strongest cue again.

Newborns and nest type are the most reliable, but you will rarely see them. Ears and weight overlap between large rabbits and small hares, and some domestic breeds are bred outside normal ranges. Only a few species are covered, so check a regional guide for rarer ones.

Where these numbers come from

The figures and defaults on this page are based on:

• Utah Division of Wildlife Resources: Biology and ecology of Utah rabbits and hares, supports newborn development, ear and weight ranges, nests and species lists (checked October 2026)
• Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan: Leporidae, supports precocial and altricial young, ear tips and escape strategies (checked October 2026)

Field-identification guide. Individual animals vary, and domestic breeds do not follow wild ranges.