Ever spotted a shadow darting between trees and wondered—wait, do squirrels actually fly? Well, the ones that seem to fly belong to a special group called flying squirrels. They don’t have wings, but they do spread a furry skin membrane, gliding from tree to tree with a style all their own. Let’s dig into which species pull off this trick and what about their bodies lets them soar through the air.
You’ll get a look at the different kinds of flying squirrels out there and the simple science behind their glide. Curious which ones you might spot? Or how they steer and land? Keep reading—you might be surprised at how these little acrobats live up in the treetops.
The Flying Squirrels: Species That Glide
These tree squirrels glide with the help of a furry skin membrane. Here’s how they do it, which genera include gliders, and a quick look at the range—from tiny pygmy types to giant Asian species.
Defining Flying Squirrels and Their Unique Adaptations
Flying squirrels don’t actually fly—they glide. They stretch a furred membrane called the patagium from wrist to ankle, creating a parachute-like surface. Small, flexible wrist bones help shape the membrane and let them steer.
Their long, flat tails work like rudders and brakes when they land. You’ll notice their bodies have changed to fit this gliding life—limb bones get longer, digits shrink, and that helps reduce drag.
Most are nocturnal, with big eyes for seeing in the dark. Their diet’s pretty varied: seeds, fungi, insects, bird eggs, sap—the works. They nest in tree cavities or leaf dreys, raising helpless babies that have to learn to glide before they ever leave home.
Major Genera and Representative Species
Flying squirrels belong to the tribe Pteromyini in the squirrel family, Sciuridae. The big genera include Glaucomys (that’s the New World bunch), Petaurista (giant Asian types), Pteromys (Old World), Petinomys, Aeromys (those are the large black flying squirrels), and the tiny pygmy ones like Petaurillus.
Each genus fits a different habitat and size. Some names you might bump into: the Siberian flying squirrel (Pteromys volans) across Eurasia, the red giant flying squirrel (Petaurista petaurista) in Southeast Asia, the black flying squirrel (Aeromys tephromelas) in Borneo and Thailand, and pygmy forms like the lesser pygmy flying squirrel (Petaurillus emiliae) in Borneo.
If you want to spot regional differences, pay attention to those genus names—they often hint at size, range, and behavior.
North American Flying Squirrels: Glaucomys Species
North America’s got three Glaucomys species. The southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) is smaller, pretty common in the eastern U.S. The northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) is bigger, hanging out in boreal forests.
Humboldt’s flying squirrel (Glaucomys oregonensis) lives in the Pacific Northwest. Scientists split it from G. sabrinus after looking at genetics.
These guys glide easily across forest gaps, munching on sap, seeds, fungi, and insects. They’re mostly nocturnal and nest in tree cavities.
You might hear their soft chatter or spot small, round holes and chewed seed husks near nests. Some Glaucomys even glow under UV light—a weird, recent discovery in North America.
Diversity: Pygmy, Giant, and Asian Flying Squirrels
Asia’s where you’ll find the most variety. Giant flying squirrels (Petaurista and kin) can stretch over a meter from nose to tail and glide impressive distances. Indian giant flying squirrel (Petaurista philippensis) and Petaurista elegans, the spotted giant, are a couple of standouts.
They like tall forests and come out at dusk. The pygmy flying squirrels (Petaurillus, Iomys) are tiny and stick to dense Southeast Asian forests.
Petinomys and Hylopetes cover mid-sized types, like the red-cheeked flying squirrel (Hylopetes spadiceus) and the particolored flying squirrel (Hylopetes alboniger).
Northern and unique species—think Kashmir flying squirrel (Eoglaucomys fimbriatus) or the north Chinese flying squirrel (Aeretes melanopterus)—show how gliding evolved in different forests and climates.
How Flying Squirrels Glide and Live
Flying squirrels use a stretchy skin flap to glide and steer with their tails and limbs. They stick mostly to forests with tall trees, nest in cavities or dreys, and eat a mix of plant and animal foods.
The Patagium and Gliding Mechanism
The patagium is a furred membrane stretching from each forelimb to each hind limb. When a flying squirrel jumps, it launches off a branch, spreads out, and the patagium opens—almost like a parachute to slow the fall.
A small cartilaginous rod near the wrist keeps the front edge firm, letting the squirrel hold a steady glide. The squirrel steers by shifting its limbs and moving that long, bushy tail.
This lets it change direction, slow down, and land on tree trunks or even skinny branches. Glides can be short or stretch hundreds of feet, depending on the squirrel’s size and launch height.
Typical Habitats and Geographic Range
You’ll find flying squirrels across North America, Eurasia, and much of Asia, usually in temperate and tropical forests. They like tall, mature woods where high branches let them glide tree to tree without ever touching the ground.
Coniferous and mixed forests are great for them—dense canopies and lots of cavities. They use natural tree holes, woodpecker nests, and sometimes even rock crevices for daytime dens.
In places with fewer old trees, nest boxes can help. Each species has its own range and needs, so local forest structure really matters for where you’ll spot them.
Diet, Behavior, and Nesting Habits
Flying squirrels are mostly nocturnal. You’ll probably hear them or catch their eyes glowing at night before you actually see one.
Their menu’s pretty broad: seeds, nuts, fungi, buds, sap, fruit, insects, and sometimes bird eggs or small animals. Northern species often stash food and bury nuts on the ground.
For nests, they use tree cavities, old woodpecker holes, or build leaf nests where branches meet the trunk. Mothers make cozy nests for their babies with leaves, bark, moss, or lichen.
If you want to help, leave dead trees standing (when safe) or put up nest boxes that mimic natural holes.
Conservation and Human Impacts
Habitat loss and logging keep shrinking the number of big trees and cavities where you might spot flying squirrels. When people remove dead wood or cut down mature trees, they make it harder for these animals to find nesting spots or glide from place to place.
Urban growth chops up forest patches and can even isolate squirrel populations. It’s a problem that keeps getting worse in a lot of areas.
You can actually help flying squirrels by leaving old trees alone, putting up nest boxes, or protecting patches of forest so they have safe paths to travel. Conservation usually means keeping the canopy connected and saving coniferous or mixed forest stands, which helps soften the blow from habitat loss.
If you’re curious about how these little mammals glide or want more details about their lives, the Encyclopaedia Britannica covers their species and anatomy pretty well: (https://www.britannica.com/animal/flying-squirrel).
