Types of Squirrels: Tree, Ground, and Flying Squirrels Explained

Across forests, fields, mountains, city parks, and even moonlit suburban fences, there runs a restless little tribe of creatures that people instantly recognize. They chatter in the branches, dart across lawns, or suddenly glide through the night like soft-furred ghosts. The world knows them collectively as squirrels, but hidden within this familiar label is an entire universe of diversity. When we look closely, we find three major groups that truly define the squirrel kingdom: tree squirrels, ground squirrels, flying squirrels.

This article is a long, energized walk through that universe—an exploration of how these three branches of the squirrel family evolved, how they behave, and why they matter. If you’ve ever watched a squirrel leap fearlessly across a branch and wondered who they really are beneath all that fluff, this is the guide that opens the door.

Let’s jump in. Or maybe, in squirrel fashion, let’s leap.

A First Look: Why Squirrels Aren’t All the Same?

At a quick glance, people tend to assume that all squirrels operate under the same rule book, simply varying a little in color or size. But when you compare tree squirrels, ground squirrels, flying squirrels, you discover that their differences go much deeper—so deep they feel like three completely separate lifestyles sculpted by evolution.

Tree squirrels practically belong to the wind; ground squirrels are molded by the earth beneath them; flying squirrels live in a strange suspended world between shadow and sky.

Same family, three wildly different lives.

The Big Branches of the Squirrel Family

Squirrels belong to the family Sciuridae, an enormous clan that also includes chipmunks, marmots, and prairie dogs. Within the “true squirrel” category, these three dominate:

1. Tree squirrels — the charismatic branch runners and nut hoarders

2. Ground squirrels — the burrow architects and colony builders

3. Flying squirrels — the silent gliders of the forest canopy

Each one reflects a different evolutionary response to habitat, predators, climate, and food supply. And understanding their differences brings a surprising level of appreciation to a creature we often overlook.

TREE SQUIRRELS: The Acrobats of the Canopy

If you imagine a classic squirrel balancing on a branch, tail streaming like a plume behind it, you’re envisioning a tree squirrel. Found almost everywhere—from oak forests to city parks—they’re the iconic stars of the squirrel world.

Body Design: A Blueprint Made for Climbing

Everything about tree squirrels seems crafted for vertical life:

• Long, lean bodies ideal for bending, twisting, contorting around branches

• Sharp curved claws that cling even to rough bark

• Incredibly flexible ankles that can rotate almost 180 degrees

• A tail that acts like a balance pole, parachute, and communication device all at once

Their movement feels like a dance: quick, flowing, unpredictable. Watch a tree squirrel chase another up a trunk and you’re witnessing a performance that’s part ballet, part comedy, part tactical warfare.

Behavior: Energy in Constant Motion

Tree squirrels are the busybodies of the squirrel world. They forage, argue, leap, scatter seeds, bury nuts, rediscover forgotten caches, and occasionally throw a sharp squeak of irritation at a rival.

Their energy bursts come in waves—short moments of intense speed followed by sudden stillness, as though they must pause to think through their next maneuver.

Diet: From Nuts to Bark to Surprise Treats

Tree squirrels have a palate that suits their environment:

• Acorns, walnuts, pecans

• Bark and tender shoots

• Berries and fungi

• Even bird eggs when they stumble upon an opportunity

• And, yes, the occasional stolen snack from a park visitor’s backpack

They are nature’s hoarders. Their instinct to bury seeds—knowing some will be forgotten—makes them accidental architects of forest regeneration.

Habitat: Any Place With Trees

Tree squirrels can thrive almost anywhere as long as branches exist. Dense forests, suburban gardens, alpine woods, coastal jungles—they adapt smoothly.

Their nests, called dreys, are messy but sturdy arrangements of twigs and leaves, perched high enough to avoid ground predators and catch the sun’s warmth.

Examples of Tree Squirrels

• Eastern Gray Squirrel

• Red Squirrel

• Fox Squirrel

• Eurasian Red Squirrel

Each species carries its own quirks, but all share the signature tree-dwelling spirit.

GROUND SQUIRRELS: The Burrow Builders of Open Land

If tree squirrels are gymnasts, ground squirrels are engineers. Living mostly on the earth’s surface—or just under it—they redefine what it means to be a squirrel.

Body Design: Built for Digging, Not Climbing

Ground squirrels have:

• Stockier bodies

• Shorter tails

• Strong forelimbs suited for excavation

• Eyes positioned to scan for predators while foraging on open land

They can climb if they must, but the tree life simply isn’t their world.

Behavior: Social, Watchful, and Always Prepared

Ground squirrels are far more social than tree squirrels. Many species live in colonies with complex tunnel systems and division of territory.

They use high-pitched chirps, tail flicks, and rapid movements to signal danger. Predators like hawks, snakes, coyotes, and foxes are constant threats, so vigilance is a way of life.

One ground squirrel may stand upright like a sentry while the others dig or forage. Their communication system is surprisingly sophisticated for such small animals.

Diet: A Balanced Mix of Plant and Protein

Ground squirrels eat:

• Seeds and grasses

• Roots and bulbs

• Insects

• Small vertebrates

• Whatever desert or grassland resources they can find

Their diet shifts seasonally with remarkable flexibility, which helps them survive in harsh environments.

Habitat: From Meadows to Deserts

Ground squirrels prefer open spaces:

• Prairies

• Grasslands

• Rocky slopes

• Desert scrub regions

Their underground burrows can be massive and far more complex than most people imagine, with multiple chambers—nursery chambers, sleeping chambers, escape tunnels, food storage sections, and ventilation points.

Examples of Ground Squirrels

• California Ground Squirrel

• Arctic Ground Squirrel

• Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel

• Cape Ground Squirrel

Some hibernate, some don’t, but all share an earthly attachment that shapes their entire lifestyle.

FLYING SQUIRRELS: The Silent Gliders of the Night

Here lies the most magical branch of them all. Flying squirrels do not fly in the bird sense, but their gliding ability is so smooth it often feels supernatural.

Body Design: The Wingless Glider

The defining feature of flying squirrels is the patagium—a thin stretch of skin between their front and hind legs.

When they leap:

• They spread their limbs

• The patagium extends like a living parachute

• Airflow shapes their trajectory

• Their long tail acts as a rudder

• They glide stunning distances, sometimes 150 feet or more

Their large, glossy eyes make them look permanently surprised, but those eyes are essential for nighttime navigation.

Behavior: Night Owls of the Squirrel World

Flying squirrels live mostly at night. Their world is quieter, cooler, and less crowded. They travel silently through the canopy, hopping from tree to tree, gliding when needed, rarely touching the ground.

Socially, they are often more cooperative than people assume. Some species nest communally for warmth, especially in winter.

Diet: A Fairy-Tale Mix of Forest Foods

Their food choices are wonderfully eclectic:

• Nuts and seeds

• Tree sap

• Fruit

• Mushrooms

• Lichen

• Bird eggs

• Even small insects or larvae

They play a huge role in spreading fungal spores, which contributes to forest health.

Habitat: Deep Forest Shadows

Flying squirrels require tall trees, dense forests, and abundant perches. They inhabit:

• Old-growth forests

• Mixed hardwood forests

• Mountain woodland regions

Their nests are typically in tree cavities or abandoned woodpecker holes.

Examples of Flying Squirrels

• Southern Flying Squirrel

• Northern Flying Squirrel

• Siberian Flying Squirrel

• Japanese Flying Squirrel

Each gliding species holds its own mysterious charm.

Comparing Tree Squirrels, Ground Squirrels, Flying Squirrels

To understand these creatures fully, we must see their differences side by side.

Lifestyle Differences

• Tree squirrels own the branches.

• Ground squirrels own the soil.

• Flying squirrels own the night sky between the trees.

Defensive Strategies

• Tree squirrels escape upward.

• Ground squirrels escape downward.

• Flying squirrels escape outward, leaping into air.

Social Behavior

• Tree squirrels can be territorial.

• Ground squirrels often live communally.

• Flying squirrels share nests in winter but forage individually.

Movement

• Tree squirrels leap and sprint.

• Ground squirrels scurry and dig.

• Flying squirrels soar in controlled, floating arcs.

Each style makes perfect sense for its corresponding habitat.

The Ecological Importance of Tree Squirrels, Ground Squirrels, Flying Squirrels

Though small, these animals influence ecosystems in massive ways.

Tree Squirrels: Forest Planters

Their forgotten nut caches help forests regenerate naturally.

Ground Squirrels: Soil Engineers

Their burrows aerate soil, create microhabitats, and help regulate insect populations.

Flying Squirrels: Fungal Transporters

They spread essential spores that help trees absorb nutrients.

Together, their combined activity shapes entire landscapes.

How They Interact With Humans?

Whether they’re raiding bird feeders, appearing in animated movies, or charming people with their boldness, squirrels have become deeply woven into human spaces.

Tree squirrels thrive in cities.
Ground squirrels adapt to farms and large open fields.
Flying squirrels avoid humans but remain a magical presence in suburban forests.

Not all interactions are positive—ground squirrels can damage crops, tree squirrels sometimes chew wiring—but their overall ecological role outweighs the inconveniences.

Why These Three Types of Squirrels Continue to Fascinate People?

Because they represent three versions of freedom:

• The freedom of height

• The freedom of land

• The freedom of air

Where tree squirrels feel like playful daredevils, ground squirrels feel like steady workers, and flying squirrels feel like mysterious forest spirits drifting through moonlit canopies.

The contrast is dramatic enough to make them characters in their own right.

Conclusion: One Family, Three Worlds

By now, the distinctions between tree squirrels, ground squirrels, flying squirrels unfold clearly—three evolutionary paths branching from a single ancestral line. Tree squirrels thrive in the sunlight of the canopy. Ground squirrels master the stability of the earth. Flying squirrels claim the silent corridors of the night sky.

If you ever spot a squirrel, take a moment to truly observe. Notice if it clings to bark, crawls through the grass, or leaps into the dark with a gliding arc. Behind each movement lies an ancient story: survival, adaptation, and a lifestyle refined over thousands of generations.

Which type fascinates you most—the acrobatic tree squirrel, the industrious ground squirrel, or the silent, gliding flying squirrel?

Share your thoughts, your sightings, or your favorite squirrel story below. And if this guide helped you see squirrels in a new light, pass it along to a friend who loves wildlife as much as you do.

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