Identifying Male and Female

For this post I want to look at the difference between male Grey Seals and Females. This distinction can be difficult at first but after a while and with some basic information this distinction can be made with relative ease. The first real difference between the sexes is the difference in size. Adult males are larger both in length and width than Females. This can be seen with the image below:

The large adult male in the top right of the image can be seen to be larger than all the other grey seals in the photograph. Hauled out on the beach it is possible to see the size of these animals. Males are mainly dark in colour in comparison to the females which can vary in colour from brown to dark grey. So the size and general colour of the seals can help to identify males and females.

The other main difference between adult male and females are the size and shape of the head. Males are generally larger and have a more structured face and females have a smaller, shorter more rounded head.

Above is Noah, a large adult male grey seal. This can not only be seen by the dark colour of the head but also the shape of the head. A large structured face with eyes sunken into the head. A round nose bending down towards the water at the tip. This is very different to the head of a female grey seal shown below. This individual is called Margaret. Large white markings give this female a very distinctive lighter appearance and therefor, give the impression of a female seal. This is confirmed by the shape of the head. A smaller rounder head with a flat if not slightly upturned nose. The eyes are slightly more positioned on the outside of the head and less bone structure can be seen on the nose of this individual. 

When these seals are young, differentiating between the sexes is very difficult. Young pups and adolescent grey seals are hard to tell apart and greater care must be taken when doing so. 

This information is only a guide and has been gathered up by me over the last few months. I have noticed that generally males are bigger, darker and more angry looking!!