Ever spot a little striped critter zipping across your yard and wonder, is that a chipmunk or a squirrel? Well, here’s the thing—a chipmunk is actually a kind of squirrel.
They’re in the same family, but chipmunks are smaller, and those bold stripes on their backs really set them apart from the squirrels you usually see.
Chipmunks mostly stick to the ground, unlike those squirrels that leap from branch to branch. You’ll often see them stuffing food into their cheek pouches or scurrying into burrows they’ve dug underground.
If you’ve ever wondered what makes chipmunks different from other squirrels or why they act the way they do, you’re in the right place. Let’s dig in and see what makes these little animals so interesting.
Are Chipmunks Squirrels? Classification and Key Differences
Maybe you’ve wondered if chipmunks are just small squirrels or something else entirely. Turns out, they really are part of the squirrel family.
But chipmunks belong to a specific group with their own quirks. Knowing where they fit helps you spot how chipmunks, tree squirrels, and ground squirrels differ.
Chipmunks Within the Sciuridae Family
Chipmunks sit in the Sciuridae family, which covers all kinds of squirrels, marmots, prairie dogs, and even flying squirrels. More specifically, they fall under the genus Tamias.
So, every chipmunk counts as a squirrel, but not every squirrel is a chipmunk.
Within Sciuridae, chipmunks land in the ground squirrel subfamily, Xerinae. That puts them closer to ground squirrels, marmots, and prairie dogs than to tree squirrels.
So if you catch a chipmunk scurrying around with full cheeks and those signature stripes, you’re looking at a kind of ground squirrel.
Physical Traits Distinguishing Chipmunks from Other Squirrels
If you want to tell chipmunks apart, check out their stripes. Chipmunks have sharp black and white stripes on their backs and faces.
Tree squirrels, on the other hand, usually don’t have stripes and are noticeably bigger.
Chipmunks stay pretty small—about 8 to 10 inches long, tail included, and just 1 to 5 ounces in weight. Their bodies are compact, and their tails are shorter than those bushy tree squirrel tails.
And those cheek pouches? Chipmunks use them to haul food, just like ground squirrels do, but tree squirrels don’t have them.
Comparison: Chipmunks, Tree Squirrels, and Ground Squirrels
Tree squirrels spend most of their lives up in the trees, and they’re bigger, with no stripes. Think of the eastern gray squirrel or red squirrel.
Chipmunks and ground squirrels hang out on the ground or even underground. Some ground squirrels have spots or stripes, but their size can be all over the place.
| Feature | Chipmunks | Tree Squirrels | Ground Squirrels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family/Subfamily | Sciuridae/Xerinae | Sciuridae/Sciurinae | Sciuridae/Xerinae |
| Size | 8–10 inches, 1–5 oz | Larger, tail bushy | Varies, similar to chipmunks in some species |
| Stripes | Yes, distinct on back and face | No stripes | Sometimes striped or spotted |
| Habitat | Ground burrows | Tree nests | Ground burrows |
| Food Storage | Cheek pouches | No cheek pouches | Cheek pouches |
This table lays out the main differences. Chipmunks definitely fit in the squirrel family, but their small size, stripes, and digging habits make them stand out.
Chipmunk Types, Habits, and Unique Features
Chipmunks have some features and habits that really set them apart. There are different species, each with its own look and way of living.
They show up in all sorts of places and use special body parts—like those stretchy cheeks—to gather and stash food.
Popular Species: Least Chipmunk, Eastern Chipmunk, and Siberian Chipmunk
If you’re in eastern North America, you’ll probably see the Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus). It’s got reddish-brown fur and dark stripes running along its face and back.
Eastern chipmunks dig burrows for hiding out and storing food away from hungry predators.
Head out west, and you might bump into the Least Chipmunk (Tamias minimus). It’s smaller, has grayish-brown fur, and its stripes aren’t quite as bold.
Least chipmunks seem to handle all kinds of habitats—grasslands, forests, even mountains.
The Siberian Chipmunk lives in parts of Asia and has even been introduced to some European spots. It’s a bit lighter in color, and its stripes look a little different from its North American cousins.
Behavior and Habitat of Chipmunks
Chipmunks stay busy during the day. You’ll usually spot them darting around on the ground, not up in the trees.
They like places with lots of cover—forests, rocky patches, or anywhere they can hide and hunt for food.
Chipmunks dig pretty complex burrows under logs or bushes. Their tunnels have different rooms: some for food, others for sleeping, and some for raising babies.
You’ll often catch them gathering nuts, seeds, or even a bug or two.
When winter hits, chipmunks hibernate in their burrows. They don’t sleep straight through, though—they wake up now and then to snack on their stored food.
Chipmunk Adaptations: Stripes and Cheek Pouches
Stripes help chipmunks blend right into the forest floor. Those dark and light bands break up their outline, so predators have a tougher time spotting them.
This kind of natural “camouflage” matters a lot, especially since chipmunks spend so much time scurrying around on the ground.
You’ll probably notice their cheek pouches right away. These expandable pockets let chipmunks haul a surprising amount of food back home in one trip.
Sometimes you’ll spot a chipmunk stuffing its cheeks full of seeds or nuts before it darts off to stash the loot.
If you want to dig deeper into chipmunk species and habits, check out this chipmunk vs. squirrel guide.
