Their name comes from the Aztec word for the species, coyotl. The males are typically heavier than females. Their coloration is gray, brown or tan above, whitish underneath. The reddish, bushy tail, tipped in black, is usually carried low, held straight out behind or between the legs. Females bear an average of five to ten pups annually.
Coyotes have exceptional senses of smell, vision and hearing.
They favor brushy habitat and the edges of fields near forests. Coyotes are omnivorous and eat whatever is handy, including meat, garbage, insects, rodents, rabbits, birds, deer, and carrion. Fruits and berries can make up a large portion of their diet. Normally solitary hunters, they sometimes hunt in pairs and rarely in packs to bring down larger prey. Coyotes can run up to 45 mph for short distances and swim well.