Head to head
Northern Flying Squirrel vs Southern Flying Squirrel
The northern flying squirrel and southern flying squirrel are close relatives that glide using the same furred membrane, but differ in size, range, and just how socially they handle the coldest months of the year.
| Northern Flying Squirrel | Southern Flying Squirrel | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Glaucomys sabrinus | Glaucomys volans |
| Relative size | Slightly larger | Slightly smaller |
| Range | Canada, Alaska, and northern US, south along mountains | Eastern US and parts of Central America |
| Winter social behaviour | Less communal nesting | Frequent large communal winter huddles |
| Diet emphasis | Heavy reliance on underground fungi | Nuts, seeds, fungi, and fruit |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Habitat | Forest | Forest |
Northern Flying Squirrel vs Southern Flying Squirrel: common questions
How can you tell a northern flying squirrel from a southern flying squirrel?
Range and size are the most reliable clues, since the northern flying squirrel is somewhat larger and found across a more northerly range including Canada, Alaska, and mountain habitat further south, while the southern flying squirrel is smaller and restricted to the eastern United States and parts of Central America.
Which of these two flying squirrels is more social in winter?
The southern flying squirrel shows a much stronger tendency toward communal winter nesting, with a dozen or more unrelated individuals sometimes huddling together in a single tree cavity for warmth, a behaviour less pronounced in the northern flying squirrel.
Can either flying squirrel actually fly?
No, neither species achieves true powered flight; both glide using a furred membrane called a patagium stretched between their front and hind limbs, steering with subtle movements of their limbs and flattened tail during each glide between trees.