The field mouse, or meadow vole, is a compact, stocky rodent with short legs and a short tail. Its eyes are small and its ears are partially hidden.
The meadow vole has a dense undercoat and is the darkest-coloured mouse, ranging from dark gray to yellow-brown or red, obscured by black-tipped hairs. The meadow vole is rarely seen higher than ground level for it does not climb walls, roofs or attics, etc. like other mice.