Squirrels are pretty noisy critters that possess quite the vocal range! Common squirrel noises sound like barks, screams and chirps and the sounds mean different things.
Let’s take a look, and listen, at the most common squirrel sounds as well as a few you may not have heard before!
Most Squirrel Sounds Are Alarm Calls
Most of the noises that squirrels make are considered to be a variety of alarm signals. Squirrels send them in response to a threat and they are essential mechanisms in helping them live many years in the wild.
The type of “squirrel sound” depends on:
- The nature of the threat
- The type of squirrel.
Let’s start by checking out the noises from the most common species, the Eastern Gray Squirrel, and then we will move on to other species!
Eastern Gray Squirrel Sounds
There are several studies on the Eastern Gray squirrel and the communication behavior it exhibits. This tree squirrel primarily uses four types of alarm calls. These are:
- Buzzes
- Kuks
- Quaas
- Moans
Kuks, Quaas, and Moans have been identified as predator-specific calls.
Kuks are sharp alarm barks and are the most common squirrel noises that you will hear. A squirrel will “kuk” multiple times in a row and is used when the squirrels sees an immediate threat. The sharp kuk is used to alert other squirrels of immanent danger and to let the predator know that they have lost the element of surprise.
Quaas are the screaming sound from squirrels. The Quaa has a similar frequency as a Kuk alarm but is slightly longer. The quaa is used when the immediate danger from a predator is passed but it is still in the area.
Moans are quiet calls that sound like a chirp. The Moan is used when the squirrel believes the predator has left but isn’t really sure. Because the squirrel is not positive of the predator’s location it uses this quieter call so it does not give the predator any clues.
Buzzes are low amplitude sounds that are inaudible unless you are standing a few meters away from the squirrel. The Buzz, sometimes called a muk-muk by researchers, is used by baby squirrels asking for food and male squirrels looking for a mate.
Here is a great video that let’s you hear the three primary alarm calls of Gray Squirrels. See if you can spot the differences between the barks, screams and chirps!
It has also been noted that Eastern gray squirrels communicate through tail flicks. In case of an aerial threat (like from a hawk, eagle or owl), the squirrels elicit a moan. On encountering a terrestrial threat, they respond with a tail flick. Kuks and Quaas, on the other hand, do not carry information regarding the type of threat and seem to be general alarm calls.
Grey squirrels can also employ different combinations of alarm calls and signals. They can choose to give a single alarm call through tail flicks or send vocal signals. They can also choose to combine the tail flicks with a vocal alarm call.
The escape response of these squirrels depends on the type of threat. If the alarm call is in response to aerial stimuli, the squirrel will run to the opposite side of the tree trunk, away from the stimulus.
In the case of terrestrial stimuli, the response is running to a point that is halfway around the trunk so that they can see the object that triggered the alarm. This means they try and determine whether the threat is a real predator before moving away further.
On the whole, grey squirrels are less conspicuous when responding to an aerial threat as compared to a terrestrial one.
Sounds of the California Ground Squirrels
The California ground squirrel uses 3 types of alarm calls when it detects a predator (source). If it is an aerial predator, then the squirrel will respond with a whistle. Large mammalian predators cause these squirrels to make a chattering sound (chatters and chats).
When this squirrel detects an aerial predator, it will do a quick scan of the sky and then resume its activities. Compared to this, when the squirrel spots a mammalian predator on its turf, it will be more cautious. This is because, in the case of aerial predators, these squirrels simply try and keep a low profile for a few moments until the predator leaves.
In the case of mammalian predators, the squirrels interpret them as a more lingering threat. They know that terrestrial predators can hide more easily from the squirrel and adapt accordingly.
Considering their responses, it can also be said that whistles work as a low-intensity alarm. Chatters and chats, on the other hand, are high-intensity alarms. Here is an example of the “chat”, a single noise alarm.
In terms of terrestrial predators, the chatters observed in California ground squirrels are different when they encountered a snake versus when they encounter a mammalian predator. Besides distinguishing between aerial and terrestrial predators, the alarm call can be said to carry information regarding the type of terrestrial predator encountered as well.
Richardson’s Ground Squirrel Noises
These squirrels communicate through whistles and chirps. Their alarm calls tend to be predator-specific as well and chirps are used for aerial predators, whereas whistles are used for terrestrial predators.
Here is a clip of what the whistles and chirps sound like.
The receivers of the alarm call also respond in different ways. Upon hearing chirps, the squirrels run to their burrows. In the case of whistles, the squirrel stands very still and only runs if the terrestrial predator gets very close.
The Richardson’s ground squirrel is also the only ground squirrel that uses ultrasonic alarm calls (source). This squirrel produces a flat narrow-band call with a frequency of 50kHz. According to research, this ultrasonic call is used in case of distant stimuli/predators, as opposed to near ones. Its relationship to low-frequency chirps and whistles is not clear.
Sounds of Gunnison’s Prairie Dogs
These squirrels are related to the Eurasian and American ground squirrel. Their alarm calls are the most specific across the squirrel species (source). There are no studies that compare the use of their call categories, but their alarm calls are said to be very diverse according to the stimuli.
According to one study, their alarm calls changed in response to people wearing different shirt colors. This degree of specificity is not found in any other squirrels. Their escape responses are also different according to the predator. In the case of aerial predators and humans, the squirrels rush inside their burrows. However, in the case of dogs and coyotes, they will simply stand outside the burrow’s entrance but not retreat inside.
Here is a wonderful video describing the research which has been done on the amazingly complex Prairie dog language.
North American Red Squirrel Noises
North American red squirrels respond to predators through three kinds of alarm calls. These are seets, barks, and seet-barks. Seets are high-frequency sounds of low amplitude. Barks are loud alarm calls that have broad overtones. Seet-barks are an intermediate of the other two sounds. They start like seets, add some harmonics, and end with a bark.
Read all about these amazing animals here: Red Squirrel Facts (Eurasian, American and Fox)
The squirrels use seets and seet-barks in response to ravens and other aerial predators. Barks are only used when responding to dogs and people.
Besides being predator-specific, red squirrels also appear to use different alarm calls that reflect varying levels of urgency. For instance, if the squirrel encounters a small bird at the same distance as a large, terrestrial predator, then the level of urgency in the alarm is different.
Palm Squirrels (India) Alarm Sounds
These squirrels communicate through three types of alarm sounds. The first is a soft tooth chatter, the second is a loud chuck, and the third is a short, loud staccato bark. Palm squirrels use tail signals to communicate as well.
Rope Squirrels (Africa) Noises
Thomas rope squirrels communicate through chucks, whistles, and soft notes. The chuck sound is short and varies in length. The whistles are loud, whereas the soft notes are comparatively quiet sounds.
Fire-footed rope squirrels also have three kinds of alarm sounds. Their chucks are noisier and span across more frequencies as compared to Thomas rope squirrels. They also use double chucks and staccato calls.
Sun Squirrels (Africa) Barks and Coos
These squirrels communicate through barks and coos. Their barks have varying frequencies and are short, broadband calls. Coos, on the other hand, are longer in length. They are narrowband calls with a descending frequency. The barks are used upon encountering a predator, or in response to loud noises. Coos are used when responding to people.
African Pygmy Squirrels Pips
This squirrel uses a single alarm call which sounds like a soft “pip”. It is inaudible unless you are standing only a few meters away from the squirrel.
It is elicited only in response to people.
Bush Squirrels (Africa) Sounds
Bush squirrels communicate through clicks, trills, and alarm barks. Clicks are short and soft broadband calls that are said in repetition. Trills are rapid, narrowband calls, whereas alarm barks are short and loud broadband calls.
Clicks and trills are used to announce a squirrel’s presence to other squirrels. Clicks are also used in response to people and predators like snakes and mongooses. Barks are mainly used in response to predators as well.
Smith bush squirrels use a rattling sound instead of a trill.
Giant Forest Squirrels (Asia)
The giant forest squirrel communicates through a non-vocal, loud “chuff” sound. It also communicates through a loud, vocal bark and a loud whining sound. The predator specificity associated with the chuff and bark sounds is unclear.
The whining sound is said to be elicited by aerial predators and people.
You’ll love this: Giant Squirrels of the World: Some Of Them Even Fly!
Formosan Squirrels (Asia) Alarm Calls
Formosan squirrels use distinct alarm calls for large birds, snakes, and feral cats. When encountering a feral cat, the squirrel will elicit a short, repetitive, broadband bark. In case of a large flying bird, the alarm call is different from the cat one.
In the case of snakes, however, the Formosan squirrel exhibits a very unique reaction. The snake alarm call is a mobbing call. It is a high-pitched scream that invites conspecifics to come to a squirrel’s defense and help in attacking the snake.
Beyond Squirrels’ Predator-Specific Sounds
Besides predator-specific calls, squirrels also make noises in some specific social contexts. These include:
Male Gray Squirrel Mating Calls
Males make a muk-muk call, also called a buzz, to show they are interested in mating with a female squirrel. This sound is an imitation of the sound made by a baby squirrel. When a male squirrel communicates using this sound, it means that the female squirrel does not need to consider him a threat.
Hunger Noises From Newborn Squirrels
Baby squirrels also send out hunger calls to their mothers. When they are three days old, these baby squirrels make noises that are similar to a squeak.
After three weeks, they can make growling noises to indicate hunger, and by the fourth week, they are able to communicate through short screams. Baby squirrels also make the muk-muk sound. It is meant to be a soft call to their mother so that she can come and feed them.
Threatening Calls
Squirrels also communicate through angry signals to show their aggression towards other squirrels. This can happen when a squirrel is marking its territory or boundaries and trying to keep other squirrels away from its food source. The red squirrel will communicate through screeches and rattles in this case. These sounds are very different from the muk-muk sound that is used during mating as it is meant to threaten intruders.
Grey squirrels also elicit growling sounds during an aggressive interaction with another squirrel.
Squirrel Sounds in a Nut Shell
There are a variety of noises made by squirrels. Their vocal communication is very advanced and changes according to the context. It’s nothing short of fascinating how their communication changes according to the type of species and varies according to predators as well.
Besides using these alarm calls to convey to their fellow squirrels about the presence of a predator, squirrels also elicit noises to let the predator know that their presence has been detected. Besides sounds and noises, they also use their tails to communicate and their tail language is as complex as their vocal communication.
