Information about frogs of Montgomery County. Most common frog calls you will here while volunteering for FrogWatch.

1. Frogs and Toads of
Montgomery County Maryland

2. Common Frogs and Toads ofCommon Frogs and Toads of
Montgomery CountyMontgomery County

3. Species Calling Calendar
Species Feb March April May June July Aug
Spring Peeper x x
Wood Frog x x
Upland Chorus Frog x x x
Pickerel Frog x x
Southern Leopard Frog x x x x
American Toad x x x x x
American Bullfrog x (late) x x x
Fowler's Toad x (late) x x x
Northern Green Frog x (late) x x x
Gray Treefrog x x x
Cope's Gray Treefrog x x x
Northern Cricket Frog x x x x

4. Wood FrogWood Frog
Lithobates sylvaticusLithobates sylvaticus
(formerly(formerly Rana sylvatica)Rana sylvatica)
© National Park Service

5. Wood FrogWood Frog
Size: 1 3/8-3 ¼ inches
Striped appearance is common in
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and points
north, un-striped found south and east.
The only North American frog found
north of the Arctic Circle. Currently
being studied for their ability to live after
freezing solid.
Habitat: Moist woodlands in eastern
areas; open grasslands in western;
tundra in the far north. Obligate
seasonal pool breeder.© Jim Harding, MSU

6. Wood FrogWood Frog
Voice: Series of short raspy
quacks
Listen carefully! Call is
somewhat muted and does
not project or carry very far.
© Jim Harding, MSU

7. Spring PeeperSpring Peeper
(Pseudacris crucifer)(Pseudacris crucifer)
© Jim Harding, MSU

8. Spring PeeperSpring Peeper
Size: ¾ -1 ½ inches
The spring peeper is one of
the most familiar frogs in the
East, although it is heard far
more often than seen.
Habitat: Wooded areas in or
near temporarily flooded
ponds and swamps© Paul Crump, Houston Zoo

9. Spring PeeperSpring Peeper
Voice: High-pitched ascending whistle,
sometimes with a short trill, given once
per second, in a multiple-frog chorus:
peep, peep, peep.
Agonistic call is a sharp preep, often
confused with other chorus frog species.
Males call from shrubs and trees near
water or tucked low in emergent
vegetation.
© Jim Harding, MSU

10. Pickerel FrogPickerel Frog
(Lithobates (Rana) palustris)(Lithobates (Rana) palustris)
© Jim Harding, MSU

11. Pickerel FrogPickerel Frog
Size: 1¾ - 3 inches
An irritating skin secretion makes
this frog unappetizing to some
predators. The secretion will kill
other frogs kept in the same
collecting container or terrarium.
Habitat: Slow-moving waters and
other damp areas preferably with
low, dense vegetation; streams,
swamps, and meadows
© Paul Crump, Houston Zoo

12. Pickerel FrogPickerel Frog
Voice: Steady, low,
snore-like croak. Raspy
in quality and may last
up to 2 seconds.
May call in a rolling snore
while under water.
© USFWS

13. Southern Leopard FrogSouthern Leopard Frog
(Lithobates sphenocephalus)(Lithobates sphenocephalus)
© Dick Bartlett

14. Southern Leopard FrogSouthern Leopard Frog
Size: 2 - 5 inches
To elude a predator this frog
dives into the water, makes a
sharp turn while still
submerged, and surfaces amid
vegetation at the water's edge.
Frequently hunted for frogs'
legs.
Habitat: Any freshwater
location
© Dick Bartlett

15. Southern Leopard FrogSouthern Leopard Frog
Range: From New
Jersey to the Florida
Keys; west to Texas.
Voice: Series of
short, throaty,
chuckle-like croaks.
Males call while
afloat or from land. © Virginia Herpetological Society

16. Northern Cricket Frog
(Acris crepitans)
© Jim Harding, MSU

17. Northern Cricket FrogNorthern Cricket Frog
Size: 5/8 - 1 ½ inches
Among the most agile leapers
and can jump surprisingly long
distances (5 - 6 feet) for its
small size.
Habitat: Sunny ponds of
shallow water with good
growth of vegetation in the
water or on the shore; slow-
moving streams with sunny
banks
© Jim Harding, MSU

18. Northern Cricket FrogNorthern Cricket Frog
Voice: Sharp, measured
clicking, repeated in rapid
succession.
Call reminiscent of two
glass marbles being
tapped together or the
shaking of a spray paint
can.
Call produced through a
single vocal sac.
© Jim Harding, MSU

19. American ToadAmerican Toad
(Anaxyrus americanus)(Anaxyrus americanus)
FormerlyFormerly Bufo americanusBufo americanus
© Jim Harding, MSU

20. American ToadAmerican Toad
• Size: 2- 4 inches
• Toads lay eggs in a long
string (e.g., note strands in
the photo), while frogs lay
them in clumps.
• Habitat: Mowed grassy
yards to forested
mountains. Wherever
there is abundant moisture
and insects.
© Joe Greathouse, Oglebay’s Good Zoo

21. American ToadAmerican Toad
Voice: A pleasant musical
trill lasting 5 to 30
seconds.
Call sounds like a
simultaneous whistle and
hum.
Single vocal sac that is
large, round, and
prominent when inflated
© Jim Harding, MSU

22. Fowler’s ToadFowler’s Toad
Anaxyrus (Bufo) fowleriAnaxyrus (Bufo) fowleri
© Jim Harding, MSU

23. Fowler’s ToadFowler’s Toad
• Size: 2 ½ - 3 ¾ inches
• Likes to burrow into the
ground during hot, dry
periods and during the
winter
• Habitat: Sandy areas near
marshes, irrigation ditches,
backyards, and temporary
rain pools
© USFWS

24. Fowler’s ToadFowler’s Toad
Voice: Plaintive,
descending, 1- to 4-
second "wraaaaaah.”
Brash and nasal in
quality.
Produced through a
single vocal sac.
© Paul Crump, Houston Zoo

25. Green FrogGreen Frog
(Lithobates (Rana) clamitans)(Lithobates (Rana) clamitans)
© NOAA

26. Green FrogGreen Frog
Size: 2 - 4 inches
Habitat: Lives close
to shallow water,
springs, streams,
swamps, brooks,
and edges of ponds
and lakes. May be
found among rotting
debris of fallen trees.© USGS

27. Green FrogGreen Frog
Voice: like the twang of a
loose banjo string, usually
given as a single note.
Burst of sound that when
given in rapid succession,
will get progressively
quieter.
Made through a pair of
internal vocal pouches. © Jim Harding, MSU

28. American BullfrogAmerican Bullfrog
((Lithobates catesbianus)Lithobates catesbianus)
formerlyformerly Rana catesibanaRana catesibana
© USGS

29. American BullfrogAmerican Bullfrog
• Size: 3 – 8 inches.
• The largest frog in North America.
• Large specimens have been
known to catch and swallow small
birds and young snakes
• Habitat: Ponds, lakes, slow-
moving streams with vegetation.
(Must be large enough to avoid
crowding). Usually found on the
bank at water’s edge. When
frightened, the bullfrog is likely to
flee into nearby vegetation.© Jim Harding, MSU
© Paul Crump, Houston Zoo

30. American BullfrogAmerican Bullfrog
Voice: Deep-pitched “jug
o'rum” resembling the
bellow of a bull.
Sound produced by a
single internal vocal sac
that inflates to form a
bulge under the chin.
Call can be heard for more
than a quarter mile.
© Jim Harding, MSU

31. Gray TreefrogGray Treefrog
(Hyla versicolor)(Hyla versicolor)
© Jim Harding, MSU

32. Gray TreefrogGray Treefrog
Size: 1 ¼ - 2 ½ inches
Two species of gray treefrog
are identical in appearance.
The difference is the call.
Gray treefrogs can change
color from green to gray.
Habitat: Trees or shrubs
growing in or near
permanent water
© Jim Harding, MSU

33. Gray TreefrogGray Treefrog
Voice: A hearty,
resonating trill, usually
heard in spring and early
summer.
The Cope’s gray treefrog
has half as many
chromosomes as the
gray treefrog. Its call is a
faster, raspier less
musical trill.
© Jim Harding, MSU
© Jim Harding, MSU

34. Cope’s Gray TreefrogCope’s Gray Treefrog
(Hyla chrysoscelis)(Hyla chrysoscelis)
© Joe Greathouse, Oglebay’s Good Zoo

35. Cope’s Gray TreefrogCope’s Gray Treefrog
Size: 1 ¼ - 2 3/8
inches
Habitat: Trees and
shrubs in or near
ponds or other
wetlands
© Dick Bartlett

36. Cope’s Gray Treefrog
Voice: A hearty, raspy
resonating trill, usually
heard in spring and early
summer.
Faster trill that is less
musical than that of the
identical-looking gray
treefrog © Dick Bartlett

37. A few odd ones

38. Upland Chorus Frog
Size: 3/4 – 1.5 inches
Habitat: grassy ditches,
flooded fields and
temporary wetlands

39. Upland Chorus Frog
Voice: a regularly
repeated “crrreek,”
sounding similar to
fingers running over the
teeth of a comb
Call is often heard very
early in the season
© Dick Bartlett

40. Green Treefrog
(Hyla cinerea)
Size: 1 – 2.5 inches
Habitat: Wetlands with
plentiful floating
vegetation, grasses,
and cattails.

41. Green Treefrog
• Voice: A monotone
queenk, queenk,
queenk
• Often heard in late
spring and early
summer.

42. POP QUIZ!
•Spring Peeper
•Green Frog
•Gray Treefrog

43. CONSULT LOCAL RESOURCES
• Frogs and Toads of Montgomery County:
• http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DEP/water/frogs-and-toads.html
• Maryland Quiz
– https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/Frogquiz/index.cfm?fuseaction=publicQuiz.StartPublicQuiz
• Northeastern Species
– Species of Toads and Frogs Found in New York: http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7487.html
– Online Field Guide for Reptiles and Amphibians - Frogs and Toads (New Jersey):
http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/ensp/fieldguide_herps.htm#frogs-toads
– Discover Maryland’s Herps - Field Guide to Maryland’s Frogs and Toads:
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/Plants_Wildlife/herps/Anura/fieldguide_OrderAnura.asp
– Frogs and Toads of West Virginia: http://www.marshall.edu/herp/anurans.htm

44. CONSULT LOCAL RESOURCES
• Southeastern Species
– Frogs and Toads of Virginia:
http://www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com/amphibians/frogsandtoads/frogs_and_toads_of_virginia.htm
– Frogs and Toads of North Carolina: http://www.herpsofnc.org/herps_of_NC/anurans/anurans.html
– USGS Southeast Ecological Science Center - Anura:
http://fl.biology.usgs.gov/herps/Frogs_and_Toads/frogs_and_toads.html
– USGS South Central Amphibian Research Monitoring Initiative:
http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/sc_armi/frogs_and_toads/index.html