Sometimes known as the chickaree or pine squirrel. The Native Americans of Kings River called it the "Pillillooeet", in imitation of its characteristic alarm call.
Their appearance varies according to the season. In the summer, they are greyish on their backs and pale orange on the chest and belly. In the winter, the coat is browner and the underside is grayer.
Mostly eat seeds of coniferous trees. They are hoarders, storing their food in a single location. Diurnal. On summer nights, they sleep in ball-shaped nests that they make in the trees, but in the winter they use holes in trees as nests. Territorial; in winter, each squirrel occupies a territory of about 10 000 square metres, but during the breeding season a mated pair will defend a single territory together.
Abert's squirrel or the tassel-eared squirrel (Sciurus aberti)
It is named in honor of the American naturalist John James Abert. It is recognizable by its tufted ears, gray color and rusty stripe on back.
Diurnal. Mostly feeds on the seeds and cones of the Mexican pinyon and the ponderosa pine. It doesn't store food, as other North American squirrels do. Nine subspecies are recognised.
Breeding normally occurs in summer, with a spherical nest being built high in the canopy. It's used year-round by most squirrels for nightly shelter. Three or four young per litter is typical, usually bear one litter per year.
Calabrian black squirrel (Sciurus meridionalis)
It has long been considered a subspecies of the red squirrel, but studies revealed that it is unique in both genetics and appearance, leading to its recognition as a distinct species. It generally resembles the red squirrel in its behavior.
It is monomorphic (not variable in appearance), being very dark brown to blackish with contrasting white underparts. Compared to red squirrels, the Calabrian black squirrel is also significantly larger, weighing on average about 35% more.
Lives in mixed forests in highlands, its nests are often placed in pine or oak trees, mostly near black pine, as the seeds are an important food source.
