Mammal field guide · Hares and Rabbits

Photographing the Eastern Cottontail

How to photograph the Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus): the right lens for its size, shutter speeds for perched and moving animals, and when it's most often seen (April, May, June and July).

35–65 cm1/2000 s
Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)
Photo: © Andrew Murray, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Andrew Murray via iNaturalist
35–65 cm
Typical length (family range)
1/800 s
Shutter: perched / still
1/2000 s
Shutter: action / flight
f/5.6–f/8
Aperture
180,188
Research-grade sightings in N. America
ModeManual + Auto ISOLock shutter & aperture, let ISO float
Shutter (still)1/800 s
Shutter (action)1/2000 s
Aperturef/5.6–f/8
FocusAF-C + subject/eye detectionGet down to eye level; a long lens with close focus (or an extension tube) helps with small subjects.
DriveHigh-speed burst
Lens100–400 mmFull-frame equivalent

Focal length needed to frame it#

For a subject about 50 cm long filling a third or half of the frame width horizontally.

Distance⅓ of frame (FF)½ of frame (FF)⅓ of frame (APS-C)⅓ of frame (MFT)
5 m (16 ft)116 mm174 mm77 mm58 mm
10 m (33 ft)232 mm347 mm155 mm116 mm
15 m (49 ft)348 mm521 mm232 mm174 mm
20 m (66 ft)464 mm695 mm309 mm232 mm
30 m (98 ft)696 mm1,042 mm464 mm348 mm
50 m (164 ft)1,160 mm1,737 mm774 mm580 mm

When to find it#

Jan: 2% Jan Feb: 3% Feb Mar: 5% Mar Apr: 14% Apr May: 18% May Jun: 18% Jun Jul: 16% Jul Aug: 10% Aug Sep: 7% Sep Oct: 3% Oct Nov: 2% Nov Dec: 2% Dec
Share of iNaturalist observations by month across North America. Peak months: April, May, June and July.

About the Eastern Cottontail#

The eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) is a New World cottontail rabbit, a member of the family Leporidae. It is one of the most common rabbit species in North America.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia via iNaturalist (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Field-craft tips#

  • Backlit ears at sunrise make classic portraits.
  • Get down to eye level; a long lens with close focus (or an extension tube) helps with small subjects.
  • Sightings peak in April, May, June and July, which is when you'll have the most chances.

Ethics#

  • The welfare of the animal comes first: if it changes its behaviour because of you, you are too close.
  • Stay on trails, respect closures around nests, leks, dens and haul-outs.
  • Avoid playback and baiting in sensitive seasons; never bait predators.
  • Don't share precise locations of rare, nesting or roosting animals publicly.

More Hares and Rabbits#

Desert CottontailSylvilagus audubonii Black-tailed Jackrabbit Black-tailed JackrabbitLepus californicus Snowshoe HareLepus americanus Marsh Rabbit Marsh RabbitSylvilagus palustris Brush Rabbit Brush RabbitSylvilagus bachmani White-tailed Jackrabbit White-tailed JackrabbitLepus townsendii European Rabbit European RabbitOryctolagus cuniculus Mountain Cottontail Mountain CottontailSylvilagus nuttallii

Frequently asked questions#

What lens do I need to photograph an Eastern Cottontail?

At about 50 cm long, an eastern cottontail fills a third of a full-frame image at 10 m with roughly 232 mm, or at 20 m with 464 mm.

What shutter speed should I use for an Eastern Cottontail?

1/800 s when it's still; 1/2000 s for action.

When is the best time to photograph a Eastern Cottontail?

Observations in North America peak in April, May, June and July. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and activity.

Sources & licences#

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources