These 5 Snakes Look Similar to Copperheads

Snakes Commonly Mistaken for Copperheads

Copperheads are one of the most commonly misidentified snakes in North America. Their tan and brown coloring is shared by several harmless species, which means a lot of nonvenomous snakes get killed unnecessarily because someone thought they saw a copperhead. Learning to tell these look alikes apart can save you from unnecessary panic and save harmless snakes from undeserved death sentences. Here are the species most commonly mistaken for copperheads.

1. Northern Water Snake

The Northern Water Snake is probably the most frequently misidentified snake in copperhead territory. They are brown with darker crossbands that can look very similar to a copperhead at first glance, and they are often found near water, which is also copperhead habitat. However, there are clear differences once you know what to look for.

Northern Water Snakes have bands that are widest on the back and narrow on the sides, which is the opposite of copperheads whose hourglass bands are widest on the sides and narrow on the back. Water Snakes have round pupils and narrow heads that are not distinctly wider than their body. They also tend to be darker and have more irregular banding than the clean, consistent pattern of a copperhead. Water Snakes are nonvenomous but can be defensive and will bite if handled.

2. Eastern Milk Snake

Eastern Milk Snakes have brown or reddish blotches on a tan or grey background that can resemble copperhead coloring. They are found throughout the eastern United States in the same general areas as copperheads, which adds to the confusion.

The key differences are their pattern shape and head structure. Milk Snake blotches are irregular saddle shapes, not the distinctive hourglass pattern of copperheads. Their heads are narrow and blend smoothly into their body, while copperheads have broad, triangular heads. Milk Snakes are also more slender overall. They are completely harmless and actually beneficial since they eat rodents.

3. Corn Snake (Red Rat Snake)

Juvenile and some adult Corn Snakes have brownish or reddish blotches on a lighter background that can cause confusion with copperheads, especially for people who are not familiar with snakes. Corn Snakes found in some regions have more muted coloring that increases the resemblance.

Corn Snakes are easy to distinguish once you look closely. Their blotches have dark borders that copperheads lack. They have round pupils and no heat sensing pits. Their bellies have a distinctive black and white checkerboard pattern that is unique to this species. Corn Snakes are one of the most popular pet snakes and are completely nonvenomous.

4. Eastern Hognose Snake

Eastern Hognose Snakes come in a variety of colors, and some brown individuals look similar enough to copperheads to cause alarm. Their stocky build and defensive displays (which include flattening their head, hissing, and even playing dead) can make them seem more threatening than they are.

The easiest way to identify a Hognose Snake is their distinctive upturned nose, which they use for digging. No copperhead has this feature. Hognose Snakes also have round pupils and their pattern is usually more blotchy and irregular than the clean hourglass bands of a copperhead. They are technically rear fanged and mildly venomous to their amphibian prey, but they are not dangerous to humans.

5. Juvenile Black Racer

Adult Black Racers are solid black and look nothing like copperheads, but juvenile Black Racers are a completely different story. Young Black Racers are grey or tan with brown blotches that can look remarkably like a copperhead, especially to someone unfamiliar with snakes. As they grow, the blotches gradually darken until the snake becomes the solid black adult most people recognize.

Juvenile Black Racers can be distinguished from copperheads by their round pupils, narrow heads, slender build, and blotch pattern that does not form the distinctive hourglass shape. They are also much more likely to flee quickly when encountered, while copperheads tend to freeze and rely on camouflage.

Quick Identification Tips

When you encounter a snake and are unsure whether it is a copperhead, look for these copperhead specific features: hourglass shaped bands that are widest on the sides and narrow on the back, a broad triangular head distinctly wider than the neck, vertical slit pupils, heat sensing pits between the eyes and nostrils, and a solid coppery or orange colored head. If you cannot see these features clearly, the safest approach is to keep your distance and let the snake move on. Most snakes you encounter will be harmless, and killing them is both unnecessary and harmful to the local ecosystem.