Mammals Active at night

Japanese Flying Squirrel

Pteromys momonga

iNaturalist Wikipedia

The Japanese Flying Squirrel is a nocturnal wonder of the Japanese woods. With its massive eyes and soft, velvet-like fur, this master of the night canopy glides through the forest like a silent, living kite.

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0 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

Body length 14–20 cm (5.5–8 in), tail 10–14 cm (4–5.5 in), weighing 150–220 g (5–8 oz)

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Colors

Soft silvery-gray to buff-brown upperparts; creamy white underbelly; large, dark liquid-black eyes

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Key Features

Enormous soul-piercing black eyes
Fur-covered gliding membrane (patagium) between limbs
Small, rounded ears and a flattened, bushy tail
Compact, orb-like body shape

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active at night

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Peak hours 9 PM - 4 AM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Primarily herbivorous; feeds on pine seeds, spruce needles, tree buds, maple seeds, bark, and occasional fruits or small insects.

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Habitat Mature coniferous and deciduous forests, subalpine zones, and occasionally quiet suburban parks with large old-growth trees.

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Where Does the Japanese Flying Squirrel Live?

This enchanting glider is a Japanese endemic, found nowhere else on Earth in the wild. It makes its home across the major islands of the Japanese archipelago, specifically Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Within this range, it thrives in montane forests and subalpine regions where old-growth trees provide the necessary hollows for nesting and protection from predators.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

1 Countries

300K km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

JP Japan

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Japanese Flying Squirrel is a strictly nocturnal mammal that spends the vast majority of its life high in the forest canopy. Unlike many other squirrels, it rarely descends to the forest floor, preferring to move between trees by gliding. By extending its limbs, it stretches out its specialized skin membrane to create a sail-like surface, allowing it to glide gracefully for distances exceeding 100 meters. They use their flat tails as rudders to steer through the dense branches with remarkable precision.

Socially, these squirrels are remarkably peaceful and communal. During the cold winter months, it is common to find several individuals—sometimes of the same sex—huddled together in a single tree hollow or nesting box to conserve body heat. While they are shy and retreat quickly from loud noises, they are not particularly fearful of humans if approached quietly, making them a favorite subject for patient nighttime observers.

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Camera Tips

To successfully capture a Japanese Flying Squirrel on camera, you must think vertically. These animals spend very little time on the ground, so mounting your camera at eye level won't work. Instead, secure your camera 2 to 5 meters up the trunk of a mature conifer or maple tree. Use a tree-climbing strap and angle the lens slightly downward to cover the area where a squirrel might land or emerge from a nesting hole. If you can identify a 'latrine tree'—recognizable by the small, grain-like droppings at the base—you have found a high-traffic area.

Because they are strictly nocturnal, your camera’s infrared (IR) performance is critical. Opt for 'No-Glow' or 'Black IR' LEDs; standard red-glow IR can occasionally startle these sensitive creatures. Set your camera to take short video clips (10–20 seconds) rather than just still photos. A still image often results in a blurry gray streak as they glide past, but a high-frame-rate video will capture the incredible 'parachute' effect of their gliding membrane and their soft landing on the bark.

Backyard enthusiasts can attract them by installing specialized nesting boxes high in trees, which often become the focus of their activity. Since they are most active in the dark, ensure your camera has a fast trigger speed (under 0.3 seconds). They move with surprising speed once they land, scurrying to the opposite side of the tree trunk to hide from potential owls. Positioning two cameras on opposite sides of a prominent trunk is an advanced trick used by pros to ensure they don't miss the action.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Japanese Flying Squirrel.

Siberian Flying Squirrel

Very closely related but found across Eurasia; the Japanese species is smaller and endemic only to Japan's main islands.

Japanese Giant Flying Squirrel

Much larger in size, often weighing up to 1.5kg, with more reddish-brown fur compared to the dwarf's silver-gray.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Japanese Flying Squirrels are strictly nocturnal. They typically emerge shortly after sunset and remain active throughout the night, with peak activity occurring between 9 PM and 3 AM.

In Japan, you can attract them by providing nesting boxes placed high in mature trees and planting native species like Japanese Maple or Pine, which provide their preferred food sources like buds and seeds.

Their diet consists mostly of plant matter, including pine and spruce seeds, tree buds, leaves, and bark. They are also known to eat fruits and occasionally small insects.

They are primarily forest dwellers but can be found in suburban areas that are adjacent to mature woodlands or in large, quiet parks with plenty of old-growth evergreen trees.

Size is the best indicator; the Japanese Dwarf Flying Squirrel is much smaller (about the size of a chipmunk), whereas the Giant version can be as large as a house cat.

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