Coyote vs Fox

Coyotes are mid-sized canids and are usually much bigger than a fox. Yellowstone lists coyotes at 25 to 35 pounds and 16 to 20 inches at the shoulder, while California says 10 to 35 pounds and 18 to 23 inches. A red fox is the smallest canine in Yellowstone, at roughly 10 to 12 pounds and 43 inches long.

Color and tail help. A red fox has a reddish-yellow coat with black socks and a bushy tail tipped white. A coyote is brown, gray and tan with black strands, with a bushy black-tipped tail that usually hangs down. Gray foxes are grizzled gray with a black-tipped tail, and they are the only canine that truly climbs trees.

Coyote vs Fox side by side

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

When you are looking at which

Coyote

• The animal is about the size of a medium or large dog, 25 pounds or more.
• It looks lanky with a bushy black-tipped tail that hangs down.
• The coat is a mix of brown, gray and tan with black strands.
• You hear yips and howls at dusk, or see it in an open field.

Fox

• The animal is small, around 5 to 14 pounds.
• It is reddish with black socks and a white-tipped tail, or gray with a black-tipped tail.
• The snout looks small and sharply pointed compared with a coyote.
• It climbs a tree or you see it only at night near woods.

How this works

The quiz uses weight, coat color, snout, tail tip and timing. Each answer points to coyote or fox, and the side with more answers wins. Size and snout shape are the most reliable, and a close score is reported as too close to call.

California alone has four fox species, and this page mainly compares coyotes with red and gray foxes. Winter coats and distance can change how an animal looks. If an animal acts oddly or seems sick, call your local animal control or state wildlife agency.

Where these numbers come from

The figures and defaults on this page are based on:

• National Park Service, Yellowstone: Coyote, supports coyote weight, height, diet and habitat (checked October 2026)
• National Park Service, Yellowstone: Red Fox, supports red fox weight, coat, tail and habits (checked October 2026)
• California Department of Fish and Wildlife: Coyote, fox or wolf, supports coyote range of weight, tail, snout and pups (checked October 2026)
• Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency: Gray Fox, supports gray fox size, tail, habitat and tree climbing (checked October 2026)

Field-identification guide. Wild canids can carry disease and bite, so do not approach and keep pets leashed.