whitetailed

Whitetailed, often written as white-tailed, is an English compound adjective used to describe animals or other organisms that possess a white tail or a tail that is predominantly white. In zoological usage, whitetailed appears most often in common names rather than in formal taxonomy. The descriptor highlights a distinctive feature that can aid in field identification and may play a role in signaling behavior.

Notable examples include the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), native to the Americas; the animal's tail is white on the underside, which is flashed when running to signal danger or to alert others. Another example is the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), a large bird of prey found across Europe and Asia, with a pale or white tail in adults. The white-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii) is a North American hare with a white tail that contrasts with darker dorsal fur.

Other species may exhibit a white tail in juvenile or seasonal form, but common names vary by region. The term whitetailed is not a taxonomic rank and should be understood as a descriptive label applied across multiple taxa rather than a single species or group.