Birch mice (genus Sicista) are small jumping desert rodents that resemble mice with a long tufted tail and very long hind legs, allowing for remarkable leaps. All variants possess a long tail of 65 to 110 mm (2.6 to 4.3 in) of length and weigh about 6 to 14 g (0.21 to 0.49 oz). Head and body length of 50 to 90 mm (2.0 to 3.5 in) and hind foot length of 14 to 18 mm (0.55 to 0.71 in). The skin color is light brown or dark-brown to brownish yellow on the upper side and paler on the underside, but generally brownish.