Mammals Active during the day

Black Giant Squirrel

Ratufa bicolor

iNaturalist Wikipedia

One of the world's largest squirrels, this 'Olympic athlete' of the canopy is famous for its massive tail and incredible 20-foot leaps between tropical trees.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Head-body length of 35–58 cm (14–23 in), with a tail length of 45–60 cm (18–24 in); total weight ranges from 1–1.6 kg (2.2–3.5 lb).

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Colors

Upperparts are jet black or dark chocolate brown; underparts and the inside of limbs are creamy white or pale yellow; dark circles around eyes.

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Key Features

Massive bushy tail often longer than the head and body combined
Striking contrast between black dorsal fur and cream-colored belly
Short, rounded ears with distinct fur tufts
Large, robust build significantly bigger than common garden squirrels

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active during the day

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Peak hours 6-9 AM, 3-6 PM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Primarily a frugivore and granivore; it feeds on a wide variety of wild fruits, seeds, pine cones, and young leaves. It is also known to occasionally supplement its diet with insects and bird eggs.

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Habitat Primary evergreen and broadleaf forests; occasionally found in coniferous forests and managed plantations with high canopy cover.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Black Giant Squirrel Live?

The Black Giant Squirrel is native to the Indomalayan realm, spanning a vast territory across South and Southeast Asia. Its core range includes the tropical forests of northern India, Nepal, and Bhutan, extending eastward through Myanmar, Thailand, and the Malay Peninsula into the islands of western Indonesia like Sumatra and Java. While it remains a staple of undisturbed evergreen landscapes, its presence is increasingly restricted to protected areas within these countries due to habitat fragmentation.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

12 Countries

3.2M km² Range

Near Threatened Conservation

TH Thailand MY Malaysia ID Indonesia Vietnam Laos Cambodia Myanmar CN China IN India Bhutan Nepal Bangladesh

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Black Giant Squirrel is a strictly diurnal and almost exclusively arboreal acrobat. Spending the vast majority of its life in the high canopy, it is known for its incredible agility, capable of making leaps of up to 6 meters (20 feet) between branches. Unlike many smaller squirrel species, they are generally solitary and highly territorial, though they may be seen in pairs during the breeding season. They are relatively shy and will often flatten themselves against a branch to remain motionless if they sense a predator nearby.

When active, they are vocal animals, producing a loud, staccato 'chuk-chuk-chuk' call that resonates through the forest. While they rarely descend to the forest floor, they may do so occasionally to cross gaps in the canopy or to forage for fallen fruits. In areas near human settlements, they tend to remain cautious and will retreat into dense foliage at the first sign of movement, making them a prize for patient wildlife observers.

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Camera Tips

Capturing the Black Giant Squirrel requires thinking vertically. Because this species rarely touches the ground, standard trail camera placement at knee height will likely yield zero results. Instead, look for 'canopy bridges'—horizontal branches that connect two large trees. Use a secure climbing ladder or a professional mounting pole to place your camera 15 to 30 feet up. Angle the camera slightly downward along the length of a flat, sturdy branch where the squirrel is likely to pause or feed.

While these squirrels are naturally wary, they are highly motivated by seasonal fruit. If you have a fruiting tree like a wild fig or a jackfruit on your property, focus your efforts there. Unlike smaller squirrels that zip around, the Black Giant Squirrel often sits in one spot for 10-15 minutes to dismantle a large fruit or seed pod. Set your camera to take short video clips (15-20 seconds) rather than just stills to capture their unique feeding posture—they often hang by their hind legs to reach distant fruit.

Lighting is your biggest challenge in the dense canopy. To avoid 'white-out' from sunlight filtering through leaves, use a camera with a high-quality CMOS sensor and set your trigger speed to the fastest possible setting to catch their rapid leaps. If you are using a lure, a smudge of peanut butter or a halved piece of fruit secured to a branch can encourage them to stay within the camera's focal range long enough for a clear shot.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Black Giant Squirrel.

Indian Giant Squirrel

Much more colorful with maroon and purple tones; primarily restricted to peninsular India.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Black Giant Squirrels are strictly diurnal, meaning they are active during the day. They have two main peaks of activity: the early morning shortly after sunrise and the late afternoon before dusk, when they forage most intensely before retreating to their dreys (nests) for the night.

Attracting this species requires having tall, mature trees that provide a continuous canopy. Planting native fruiting trees like figs or providing a high-platform feeding station stocked with large seeds and fruits can help, but they are shy and generally avoid busy suburban yards without significant cover.

Their diet consists mainly of forest fruits, seeds, and nuts. They are particularly fond of the seeds from large tropical trees and will often spend significant time chewing through tough outer husks to reach the nutrient-rich center.

No, they are much less common in suburbs than their smaller cousins. They require high, undisturbed forest canopies and are sensitive to human presence and habitat loss, making them primarily a forest-dwelling species.

The Black Giant Squirrel (Ratufa bicolor) is almost entirely black or dark brown on its back and tail with a cream belly. The Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica) is much more colorful, often featuring shades of maroon, purple, and cream in a multi-toned coat.

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