What Is a Young Deer Called?

A baby deer is commonly referred to as a fawn or calf. As deer reach adulthood they acquire different names depending on their gender. Adult male deer are called bucks, while females are categorized as does.

A common characteristic of fawns is the white spots that are normally scattered across their backs and rumps. These white spots are a defense mechanism that breaks up the pattern of the deer’s body so it can easily camouflage itself against the ground in order to avoid predators. The white spots against the fawns’ brown coat mimic the light and dark patterns on the forest floor which are caused by sunlight shining through the leaves and branches of the forest.