Squirrel Glider
Sounds & Calls

Squirrel Glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) painting by John Gould

The Squirrel Glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) is a species of gliding possum found in forests and woodlands of eastern Australia, mainly in coastal regions. This species looks superficially similar to it’s smaller cousin the Sugar Glider, however it can be distinguished by its larger size (about twice the weight of a Sugar Glider) and it’s thicker, bushier tail.

In the south-east of their range, Squirrel Glider populations have declined as a result of habitat loss and fragmentation. This species relies on mature trees with suitable nesting hollows for breeding.

Although less vocal than Sugar Gliders, Squirrel Gliders do make a variety of sounds including nasal grunts and gurgling. Listen to an example below:

Listen to Squirrel Glider Sounds

The audio in the video spectrogram below features the typical nasal grunting calls of a Squirrel Glider. Recorded in Benarkin State Forest, Queensland.