When you think of squirrels, you probably imagine them hopping from branch to branch. But some squirrels have a different trick up their sleeves.
Only flying squirrels actually glide — they don’t fly like birds or bats, but several species can sail tens or even hundreds of feet using a stretchy skin membrane between their legs. In this piece, I’ll show you which types can glide and how they pull it off, so you’ll know what to look for or maybe just satisfy your curiosity about why they evolved this way.
If you’re curious about which species to spot and how gliding really works, stick around. I’ll break down the basic body parts and behaviors that make their short “flights” possible.
You’ll get some ID tips, surprising glide distances, and quick ways to tell flying squirrels apart from other tree animals.
Which Squirrels Can Fly?
Let’s talk about which squirrels glide, how gliding isn’t quite the same as real flight, and which species you might spot in North America or Asia.
I’ll share some easy ways to identify them and where each group usually lives.
Defining Gliding Versus True Flight
A flying squirrel glides with a skin membrane called a patagium stretched between its fore and hind legs. When it jumps, it spreads out this membrane to catch air and steer.
They can glide for tens of meters — the northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus), for example, usually covers around 20 meters but sometimes goes much farther.
True flight, like what birds or bats do, needs powered wingbeats. Squirrels just don’t have those. So, every “flying squirrel” actually glides.
Gliding helps tree-dwelling squirrels move between trees, dodge predators, and find food without dropping to the ground.
Major Flying Squirrel Species
In North America, you’ll find two main gliders: the northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) and the southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans). Humboldt’s flying squirrel also lives in the western U.S. and is closely related.
These Glaucomys species stay small, come out at night, and prefer mixed or deciduous forests.
In Asia, there’s a whole cast of larger gliders, including giant flying squirrels (Petauristini) like the red-and-white giant flying squirrel. You’ll also find pygmy, dwarf, woolly, and spotted types.
Giant species can reach a meter long and weigh over a kilogram. Pygmy and dwarf flying squirrels stay tiny, quick, and pretty adorable if you ask me.
All flying squirrels belong to the Sciuridae family and the gliding tribe Pteromyini.
Flying Squirrels Around the World
Flying squirrels range across North America and Eurasia, but Southeast Asia has the most variety. In North America, you’ll mostly see Glaucomys; at night in parks, you might catch a glimpse of the northern or southern flying squirrel.
Asian forests hold dozens of species, from tiny pygmy gliders to those big woolly and giant flying squirrels.
They like old-growth forests, mixed woods, and plantations with tall trees. Sadly, deforestation threatens many Asian species.
If you’re trying to ID one, look for the patagium, big eyes for night vision, and listen for sounds at dusk as they move between tree hollows. For more detailed lists and photos, check out this overview of different flying squirrel types (https://www.animalwised.com/different-types-of-flying-squirrels-5466.html).
How Flying Squirrels Glide
Flying squirrels use a stretchy skin flap and stiff wrist bones to move smoothly from tree to tree. I’ll explain how their patagium creates lift, how their wrists help steer, and how gliding fits into their daily search for food and shelter.
Patagium and Gliding Mechanism
The patagium is a big flap of skin that stretches from each wrist to each ankle. When a squirrel jumps from a branch, it spreads its limbs wide to pull the gliding membrane into a flat shape.
That surface grabs the air and slows their fall, letting them glide forward instead of just dropping.
Body posture changes the way they glide. If the squirrel arches its back and tilts its head, it gets more lift and flattens its flight path.
It can bend its tail to act like a rudder for steering. Glides usually cover tens of feet, but sometimes they go over 100 feet, especially in northern flying squirrels.
Wrist Adaptations and Steering
You’ll notice a small, flexible spur on the squirrel’s wrist called the styliform cartilage. This bit pushes the patagium outward behind the forelimb, making the “wing” wider and more stable.
It works sort of like a wingtip on a plane, cutting drag and keeping the membrane tight.
Steering comes from little moves with their limbs and tail. The squirrel twists its forelimbs and pushes with a hind leg to turn or bank.
Tiny shifts in the patagium’s tension change lift on each side, so the squirrel can aim for a tree trunk or a certain branch. These quick adjustments help them land on vertical tree holes and dodge predators by weaving around obstacles.
Ecological Role and Behavior
Gliding lets you search for food and find safe nesting spots without the usual risks of heading down to the ground.
Flying squirrels glide to tree cavities, where they build nests and raise their young.
They also swoop down to the forest floor to forage for truffles and fungi, grabbing what they need before heading back up to stash their finds in trees.
This way of getting around helps spread seeds, too.
You might spot squirrels carrying seeds or bits of fungi across open spaces, giving plants a chance to grow in new places.
By gliding, squirrels dodge ground predators and cover more ground each night.
They end up using less energy than if they just climbed all the time.
For a lot of gliding species, this habit really shapes where they sleep, eat, and raise their families.
