Red deer are majestic, adaptable ungulates native to Europe, parts of Asia, and North Africa. Males, called stags, grow impressive antlers each year and use them to spar for dominance during the autumn rut; females, called hinds, typically lack large antlers. Adults range widely in size depending on region and subspecies, from lighter, deer-like builds to robust, heavy-bodied animals. Their coat shifts seasonally—reddish-brown in summer and grayer in winter—providing camouflage across woodlands, moorlands, and mountainous terrain. Red deer are social: females and young form matriarchal herds, while older males may be solitary or gather in bachelor groups outside the breeding season. They are primarily grazers and browsers, feeding on grasses, shrubs, and young shoots, and can travel considerable distances to find food. During the rut, stags emit loud roars, display antler clashes, and establish harems of receptive hinds.