Although the European rabbit is the most well-known species, its natural history is highly variable, making it probably also the least common. Unlike cottontail and hispid hares, which do not dig burrows, many rabbits do. The largest burrow systems, or warrens, are made by the European rabbit.

Nonburrowing rabbits typically construct forms, or surface nests, under dense, protective cover. The European rabbit lives in open spaces like parks, fields, and gardens, but it has also lived in stony deserts and subalpine valleys. It is the most social rabbit, sometimes living in groups of up to 20 people in a warren. But even in European rabbits, social behavior can change a lot depending on the habitat and other local factors, so sometimes the main social unit is a territorial breeding pair.

The majority of rabbits live relatively alone and are occasionally territorial; they only gather in small groups occasionally to forage or breed. Rabbits sometimes use their front limbs to “box” during territorial disputes. Rabbits are active all year long; It is known that no species hibernates.

Rabbits are generally nocturnal and relatively quiet as well. The only known auditory signal for most species is a loud foot thump made to indicate aggression or alarm, with the exception of loud screams when scared or caught by a predator. The volcano rabbit (Romerolagus diazi) from Mexico, which has a wide range of calls, is a notable exception.