6 Animals That Change Colour In Winter

As winter is approaching, some animals undergo a remarkable transformation, swapping their summer hues for winter to survive and thrive in the cold.

Animals That Change Colour In Winter

1. Hare: Several species of hares—including the Arctic hare, the mountain hare, and the snowshoe hare —turn from brown or grayish to white in the winter. The colour change is thought to be at least partially linked to photoperiod—that is, the amount of light received during the day. (Image source: Canva)

2. Weasel: The species best known for changing color is the ermine, also the name of its winter fur, which is white except for the black tip of the tail. The uniquely patterned fur was once used to trim the robes of royalty and clergy. (Image source: Canva)

3. Peary caribou: A subspecies of caribou only native to the High Arctic of Canada and Greenland, Peary caribou exchange their silvery summer coats for white ones with the coming of winter. Other subspecies remain brown or gray year-round. (Image source: Canva)

4. Collared lemmings: Collared lemmings are small animals that live in the cold Arctic. Lemmings in the genus Dicrostonyx, which comprises an indeterminate number of species, turn from brown or gray in the warmer months to white when the snows come. (Image source: Twitter/ marisslenoce)

5. Arctic foxes: Arctic foxes are typically brownish gray in the summer and frosty white in the winter.  The white coat helps them blend into the snow, so they can sneak up on small animals and hide from bigger predators like wolves.  (Image source: Canva)

6. Ptarmigans: Ptarmigans are small birds that live in regions from the Arctic tundra to the boreal forests of North America and Eurasia. Ptarmigans are small birds that live in regions from the Arctic tundra to the boreal forests of North America and Eurasia. (Image source: Canva)