Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Themes
  • Videos
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Themes
Videos
App & Extension
  • United Kingdom
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil
  1. Bing Gallery
  2. United Kingdom
  3. 2020
  4. January 14
  5. A mountain hare hunkers down in a snow storm, the Cairngorms
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios A mountain hare hunkers down in a snow storm, the Cairngorms

January 14, 2020

A mountain hare hunkers down in a snow storm, the Cairngorms

© Lyle McCalmont/Getty Image

Dressed for winter

It’s tough at the top, especially if the top in question is Scotland’s Cairngorm plateau mid-winter, one of the UK’s most inhospitable environments. Few creatures brave it out here all year round, but among those that do are mountain hares, which are also one of only a few British species to turn white in the winter. This special winter coat includes furry back paws to stop them sinking into the snow and makes it more difficult for them to be spotted by predators like the golden eagle.

But another predator, the stoat, can turn white too - so the hares must keep their eyes peeled. While native to the Scottish Highlands, they can also be spotted in the Peak District and are found as far afield as Scandinavia and eastern Siberia. Mountain hares are most visible in the spring when the snow has melted but they are still white. By the time summer rolls around, they will be back in their grey-brown coat, although their tail stays white all year.

snow outdoor animal bird close

Related Images

Brown bear mother and cub in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska, USABrown bear mother and cub in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska, USA
Two Old World swallowtail butterflies on a flowerTwo Old World swallowtail butterflies on a flower
Southern cassowary father with chicks, Kuranda, Queensland, AustraliaSouthern cassowary father with chicks, Kuranda, Queensland, Australia
Elephant walking in the Okavango River, BotswanaElephant walking in the Okavango River, Botswana
Long-beaked common dolphin pod and diving Cape gannets hunting Pacific sardines off the Eastern Cape, South AfricaLong-beaked common dolphin pod and diving Cape gannets hunting Pacific sardines off the Eastern Cape, South Africa
An indigo bunting at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove in Audubon, Pennsylvania, USAAn indigo bunting at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove in Audubon, Pennsylvania, USA
Scarlet macaw in Costa RicaScarlet macaw in Costa Rica
Hyalite Creek in the Custer Gallatin National Forest, Montana, USAHyalite Creek in the Custer Gallatin National Forest, Montana, USA

Today on Bing

The road leading to Sa Calobra, Majorca

The road leading to Sa Calobra, Majorca

Jan 14, 2022
Beach huts covered in snow in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex

Beach huts covered in snow in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex

Jan 14, 2021
La Digue, an island in the Seychelles

La Digue, an island in the Seychelles

Jan 14, 2019
The island of Sanday in Orkney, Scotland

The island of Sanday in Orkney, Scotland

Jan 14, 2018
Kongde Ri mountain looms over Namche Bazaar in Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

Kongde Ri mountain looms over Namche Bazaar in Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal

Jan 14, 2017
Ice on the surface of Llyn Idwal, Snowdonia

Ice on the surface of Llyn Idwal, Snowdonia

Jan 14, 2016

Related Tags

animal outdoor bird grass colorful water swimming ground rock bear mammal brown bear carnivore kodiak bear grizzly bear butterfly moths and butterflies invertebrate insect cassowary
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
Download 1920x1080
  • © 2022 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.