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French woodland animals: 12 names to recognise in pictures

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Learn twelve French woodland animal names with articles, illustrated recognition cards and short clues about fur, feathers, antlers and tails.

In short

A fox is le renard, a squirrel is l’écureuil and a hedgehog is le hérisson. These twelve woodland names come with their articles and a visible feature to help you recognise each animal.

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A fox at the edge of a French woodland, a squirrel on a tree trunk and a hedgehog near fallen leaves.
Woodland neighbours introduce le renard and l’écureuil. Illustration: Atelier

Large mammals

le renardfoxLe renard a une longue queue rousse.
le cerfred deer; stagLe cerf porte de grands bois.
le chevreuilroe deerLe chevreuil est petit et brun.
le sanglierwild boarLe sanglier cherche de la nourriture au sol.

Small mammals

l’écureuil (m.)squirrelL’écureuil tient une noisette entre ses pattes.
le hérissonhedgehogLe hérisson a des piquants sur le dos.
le blaireaubadgerLe blaireau a des bandes noires sur la tête.
le lièvrehareLe lièvre a de longues oreilles.

Woodland birds

le hibouowl with ear tuftsCe hibou a deux petites aigrettes sur la tête.
la chouetteowl without ear tuftsCette chouette a la tête ronde.
le picwoodpeckerLe pic tape sur le tronc avec son bec.
la mésangetitLa mésange est un petit oiseau.

Fur, feathers and twelve woodland silhouettes

Three details that separate similar animals
Look forFrench descriptionMeaning
AntlersLe cerf a de grands bois.The stag has large antlers.
SizeLe chevreuil est plus petit que le cerf.The roe deer is smaller than the red deer.
Feather tuftsCe hibou a des aigrettes.This owl has feather tufts.

Les bois are antlers; le bois can mean wood. The tufts on the pictured hibou are feathers, called aigrettes. French uses hibou and chouette for different owls; both translate as “owl”.

Une pause en forêt
  1. Léa

    Regarde sous cet arbre.

    Look under that tree.

  2. Sam

    Il y a un hérisson !

    There’s a hedgehog!

  3. Léa

    Et derrière le tronc ?

    And behind the trunk?

  4. Sam

    Je vois un écureuil.

    I can see a squirrel.

Question 1No account needed
Which word matches the French clue?J’ai des piquants sur le dos.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

le hérisson. The spines, les piquants, identify the hedgehog.

Question 2No account needed
Which word matches the French clue?Je tape sur le tronc avec mon bec.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

le pic. The woodpecker taps the trunk with its beak: le pic.

Question 3No account needed
Which word matches the French clue?J’ai une longue queue rousse et des oreilles pointues.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

le renard. A bushy red tail and pointed ears match the pictured fox.

Question 4No account needed
Which word matches the French clue?J’ai un corps gris et des bandes noires sur la tête.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

le blaireau. The badger has the grey body and black facial stripes described.

Question 5No account needed
Which word matches the French clue?Sur cette image, j’ai la tête ronde, sans aigrettes.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

la chouette. The round-headed owl without feather tufts is la chouette.

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