48 Nebraskaland • July 2026
Not every animal needs to stand out. In fact, for many
Nebraska creatures, blending in is the name of the game
and that's where earthy browns and tans come in. These
colors are the unsung heroes of survival, helping animals
disappear into the grasses, soil, bark and leaf litter that
make up their homes.
Brown in animals usually comes from melanin, the
same pigment that gives human skin and hair their color.
Melanin is super versatile. Depending on the type and
concentration, it can produce shades from light tan to
deep black. Most mammals, birds and reptiles rely on
melanin for their browns, which is why it's one of the most
common colors in nature.
Take the iconic white-tailed deer. Their coats shift
with the seasons, from a rich reddish-brown in summer
to a grayer, duller tan in winter, perfectly matching
the changing colors of the landscape. This seasonal
camouf lage helps them hide from predators, such as
coyotes or mountain lions, and sneak through dense
woods or open fields without being noticed. Even their
young fawns come covered in spots that mimic dappled
sunlight filtering through the trees — a perfect natural
disguise for staying hidden while mom forages.
Then there's the eastern cottontail rabbit, whose
mottled brown and tan fur blends effortlessly with prairie
grasses and fallen leaves. Their coloration helps them
stay undetected from hawks overhead and foxes on the
ground. When danger approaches, these rabbits rely on
their camouflage and speed to escape.
Even birds use these muted colors to stay safe. The
mourning dove sports soft browns and tans that let it
fade into fields and open woodlands. When it's perched or
nesting on the ground, those subtle earth tones reduce its
visibility to predators.
Earthy
Browns
and Tans
LEFT: A fawn mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus)
hides in the Pine Ridge of Dawes County.
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
BELOW: A white-tailed deer buck (Odocoileus
virginianus) peers through tall grasses.
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
