Mammals diurnal

American Red Squirrel

Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

The American Red Squirrel is a pint-sized powerhouse of the North American woods. Famous for its fiery fur and even fiercer attitude, this vocal little mammal is a master of forest survival and a constant source of backyard entertainment.

17 Sightings

1 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

Total length of 28–35 cm (11–14 in); weight of 200–250 g (7.1–8.8 oz)

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Colors

Rusty-red to reddish-gray upper body with a crisp white or cream-colored belly; distinctive white rings around the eyes.

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Key Features

Distinctive white eye rings
Rusty red fur on back and tail
Small size, roughly half the size of an Eastern Gray Squirrel
Black lateral stripe often visible on sides during summer
Bushy tail with dark fringes

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours Early morning (1-3 hours after sunrise) and late afternoon before dusk

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Season Year-round, with peak activity in September and October during the cone harvest

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Diet Primarily granivorous, focusing on seeds from conifer cones. They also eat mushrooms (often hanging them on branches to dry), tree buds, sap, bird eggs, and berries.

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Habitat Coniferous forests and mixed woodlands; frequently found in suburban backyards with mature pine, spruce, or fir trees.

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Behavior

The American Red Squirrel, often called a 'chickaree,' is known more for its oversized personality and vocal nature than its small stature. Unlike many other squirrel species that are relatively social, the Red Squirrel is fiercely territorial and will defend its patch of conifers year-round. You will often hear them before you see them; they emit a high-pitched, rattling trill or a series of scolding 'chucks' to warn intruders—including humans and larger squirrels—to stay away from their food stores.

These squirrels are masters of preparation. Rather than burying individual nuts like the Gray Squirrel, Red Squirrels create massive central larders known as 'middens.' These are piles of discarded pine cone scales that can reach several feet in height and serve as a moist refrigerator for storing their winter food supply. Their activity is almost entirely diurnal, making them excellent subjects for daytime backyard observation.

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Camera Tips

To capture the best footage of an American Red Squirrel, you need to think like a harvester. Look for their 'midden'—a pile of pine cone scraps usually located at the base of a large evergreen or tucked inside a hollow log. Positioning your camera 12 to 18 inches off the ground, aimed directly at the midden or a frequently used 'runway' log, will provide an intimate, eye-level view of their busy work. Because these squirrels are incredibly fast, set your camera to its fastest trigger speed (0.2 seconds or less) and use a high-frame-rate video setting to avoid capturing just a blurry red tail.

If you don't have a midden in your yard, focus on vertical transitions. Red squirrels are acrobatic and prefer to travel along fence rails, low-hanging branches, or stone walls. Mount your camera on a tree trunk facing a nearby feeder or a branch where you've noticed them stopping to scold. A side-on angle works best here to capture their full profile and the white eye ring that makes them so photogenic.

Baiting can be very effective for bringing them into frame. While they love standard birdseed, they are particularly drawn to black oil sunflower seeds, peanuts (in the shell), and suet. If you want to see their natural hoarding behavior, place a whole dried corn cob or several large pine cones in a clear spot. They will often try to haul these items away, leading to hilarious and high-energy video clips. In the spring, you might even catch them licking sap from a freshly broken maple twig.

Seasonal adjustments are key. During the winter, Red Squirrels remain active even in deep snow. Use a camera with good 'white balance' settings to avoid overexposure against the snow. Since they are smaller than Gray Squirrels, ensure the PIR (Passive Infrared) sensor sensitivity is set to 'High' so the camera detects their smaller heat signature. In the summer months, look for them near water sources; a small backyard birdbath can be a magnet for a thirsty chickaree on a hot July afternoon.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with American Red Squirrel.

Eastern Gray Squirrel

Much larger than the Red Squirrel, with a more muted gray coat and lacking the white eye rings.

Douglas Squirrel

Found in the Pacific Northwest; has a more brownish-olive coat and an orange-tinted belly compared to the Red Squirrel's white belly.

Least Chipmunk

Smaller than a Red Squirrel with prominent stripes on its face and back, which the Red Squirrel lacks.

Frequently Asked Questions

American Red Squirrels are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. Their peak activity usually occurs shortly after sunrise and again in the late afternoon, though they remain busy throughout the day, especially during the fall harvest.

You can attract them by planting coniferous trees like spruce or pine. They are also drawn to bird feeders offering sunflower seeds, peanuts, and suet. Providing a consistent water source like a birdbath is also very effective.

Their primary diet consists of seeds from conifer cones. They also eat various nuts, fungi (which they sometimes dry on tree branches), tree buds, and occasionally bird eggs or nestlings during the spring.

Yes, they are common in suburban areas provided there are evergreen trees nearby. While they prefer dense forests, they adapt well to yards with mature trees and bird feeders.

The American Red Squirrel is significantly smaller, about half the size of a Gray Squirrel. It has a distinctive white eye ring, a reddish-brown back, and a white belly, whereas Gray Squirrels are larger, primarily gray, and lack the bold white eye rings.

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