Mammals Active at night

Narrow-toed Feather-tailed Glider

Acrobates pygmaeus

iNaturalist Wikipedia

Meet the world's smallest gliding mammal, a tiny marvel with a tail like a feather and a leap that defies its size. This elusive 'flying mouse' is a master of the Australian canopy, darting through the blossoms of your backyard under the cover of darkness.

0 Sightings

0 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

6.5–8 cm (2.5–3.1 in) body length; tail 7–8 cm (2.8–3.1 in); weight 10–14 g (0.35–0.5 oz)

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Colors

Soft grey-brown upperparts, creamy-white underbelly, and dark rings around the eyes.

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Key Features

Feather-like tail with stiff hairs on both sides
Smallest gliding mammal in the world
Narrow gliding membrane (patagium) extending from elbow to knee

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active at night

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Peak hours 8 PM - 3 AM

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Season Year-round

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Diet A specialized nectarivore and insectivore, feeding on nectar, pollen, and seeds from native trees like Eucalypts and Banksias, as well as small insects and sugary plant exudates.

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Habitat Open eucalypt forests, woodlands, and well-vegetated suburban gardens with mature flowering trees.

public Geographic range

Where Does the Narrow-toed Feather-tailed Glider Live?

The Narrow-toed Feather-tailed Glider is native to the eastern half of Australia. Its range forms a wide, continuous arc from the tip of the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland, down through the coastal and sub-coastal regions of New South Wales and Victoria, and into the south-eastern corner of South Australia. While it is most abundant in dense eucalypt forests, it has adapted well to fragmented landscapes and can be found in urban parks and leafy suburban backyards throughout the Australian east coast.

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1 Countries

1.2M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

AU Australia

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Narrow-toed Feather-tailed Glider is an incredibly energetic and social marsupial. Despite being the size of a mouse, these gliders live in communal groups of up to 40 individuals, often huddling together in tree hollows or nesting boxes to conserve body heat. During periods of extreme cold or food scarcity, they can enter a state of torpor, where their body temperature drops and their metabolism slows significantly to survive the night.

In the canopy, they move with a frantic, darting agility. They are capable of gliding up to 25 meters to move between trees, using their unique feather-shaped tail as a rudder to steer and stabilize their flight. While they are shy and strictly nocturnal, they are remarkably bold when feeding, often returning to the same flowering trees night after night, making them a delight for patient wildlife observers.

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Camera Tips

Because the Narrow-toed Feather-tailed Glider is so small, standard trail camera setups often fail to trigger. To capture them, you need to bring the action to the camera. Mount your device 2 to 4 meters up the trunk of a mature flowering tree, such as a Eucalyptus, Banksia, or Bottlebrush. Use a mounting bracket that allows you to angle the camera slightly downward toward a specific branch or a cluster of blossoms. If your camera has a 'Macro' mode or adjustable focus, set it for a short distance (1–2 meters), as these tiny creatures won't show much detail from further away.

Baiting is the secret to success with this species. Create a 'honey-water' spray (diluted honey or maple syrup) and apply it liberally to the bark directly in front of the lens. Alternatively, secure a small piece of sponge or cotton wool soaked in honey-water to a branch. This will encourage the gliders to linger in the frame as they lap up the nectar. Because they are lightning-fast, set your camera to 'Burst Mode' (3–5 photos per trigger) or short, high-resolution video clips (10–15 seconds) with a zero-second trigger delay.

Since they are strictly nocturnal, your camera’s infrared (IR) performance is critical. 'No-Glow' IR is preferred to avoid spooking the animals, though they are generally less sensitive to light than larger mammals. Check your camera weekly during the spring and autumn when native trees are in peak bloom, as this is when the gliders are most active. If you have nest boxes in your yard, pointing a camera at the entrance hole during the hour after sunset is an excellent way to capture them beginning their nightly forage.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Narrow-toed Feather-tailed Glider.

Broad-toed Feather-tailed Glider

Nearly identical in appearance but features larger pads on its toes and is found in slightly different habitat niches in NSW and Queensland.

Sugar Glider

Significantly larger with a bushy, non-feathered tail and a much wider gliding membrane.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Narrow-toed Feather-tailed Gliders are strictly nocturnal. They typically emerge from their hollows about 30 to 60 minutes after sunset and remain active throughout the night, with peak foraging occurring between 8 PM and 2 AM.

The best way to attract them is by planting native nectar-producing trees like Banksias, Grevilleas, and Eucalypts. Providing water in elevated dishes and installing small-entry nest boxes (about 25mm-30mm holes) also encourages them to take up residence.

They have a varied diet consisting of nectar, pollen, and 'honeydew' (sugary secretions from insects). They also eat small insects and larvae, which provide essential protein, especially during the breeding season.

Yes, they are surprisingly common in leafy suburban areas of eastern Australia, though they are rarely seen because of their tiny size and high-canopy lifestyle. They often use backyard shrubs and flowering trees as 'stepping stones' between forest patches.

The most obvious difference is size; Feather-tails are mouse-sized (12g), while Sugar Gliders are much larger (up to 140g). Additionally, only the Feather-tail has the distinctive fringe of stiff hairs on its tail that looks exactly like a bird's feather.

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