Chipmunks easily recognized by the light and dark stripes on the face. Sometimes they are confused with other squirrels like the Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel. The latter has, like chipmunks, stripes on the back but not running along the head. Each species of chipmunk has its own variation of stripes and colouration.

Chipmunks like to burrow making their nests underground. The entrances are very well concealed under shrubbery or among rock piles. Most burrows are made of a single tunnel and perhaps go down to two feet. There is usually only one entrance and the chipmunk builds a small nest area at the end of it made with dry grasses and seed heads and parts of fallen leaves.

They also store a winter's supply of seeds in this area where it spends the coldest days of winter. Young are born during June and July and are capable of searching for food and escaping their enemies within four weeks and leave the mother and make their own burrows. They may breed the following spring or in their second year. In the warmer parts of North America they may raise two litters in a single year.