The European Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) is a small, graceful deer with a delicate build and an alert, almost fox-like expression. Slim legs, a short neck, and large dark eyes give it a light, nimble appearance, perfectly suited to weaving through woodland edges and hedgerows. In summer, the coat is a rich reddish-brown, turning to a thicker grey-brown in winter. A prominent white rump patch—often heart-shaped when the tail is raised—is one of its most noticeable features as it bounds away in a series of stiff-legged leaps. Unlike larger deer, Roe have very short tails, barely visible.