Imagine sitting on your porch on a warm spring evening and hearing a chorus of ribbiting sounds filling the air. You might wonder: what’s making that noise? The answer lies in one of America’s most diverse and fascinating amphibian populations.
Across the continent, you’ll find yourself surrounded by frog species—some familiar, others hidden in marshes and forests—each with unique characteristics, distinctive calls, and specialized habitats.
Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a curious homeowner, or someone eager to understand the natural world around you, learning to identify these 28 remarkable American frog species will transform how you experience your environment.
This guide walks you through each species you’re likely to encounter, providing the identification details, habitat preferences, and behavioral insights you need to understand these creatures on a deeper level.
From the unmistakable bellow of bullfrogs to the high-pitched peeping of spring peepers, you’ll discover that each frog tells its own story about the ecosystems they inhabit.
1. American Bullfrog
The American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) stands as one of North America’s largest frog species, commanding attention with its deep, powerful call that resembles a loud “jug-o-rum.”
These robust frogs can reach 3 to 6 inches in length and feature smooth, green or brownish skin. You’ll find them in freshwater environments—permanent ponds, lakes, marshes, and slow-moving streams where they can remain active year-round in warmer regions.
Key Identification: Large size, prominent tympanum (circular ear area), smooth skin, and powerful hind legs built for impressive leaps distinguish bullfrogs from smaller frog species. Their size alone often gives them away.
Habitat & Behavior: Bullfrogs are ambush predators that remain relatively stationary in water, waiting for unsuspecting insects, smaller frogs, and even small fish to pass within striking distance. They’re highly territorial during breeding season, with males claiming specific areas and defending them aggressively. You can hear their distinctive calls throughout late spring and summer.
Pro Tip: If you want to hear bullfrogs in action, visit wetlands during warm evenings in June and July—their chorus can be remarkably loud and is best experienced firsthand.
2. Green Frog
The green frog (Lithobates clamitans) serves as a smaller cousin to the American bullfrog, reaching 2 to 4 inches long. Unlike its larger relative, the green frog produces a distinctive single-note call that sounds like a plucked banjo string or a short “gunk.”
You’ll recognize green frogs by their bright green coloring, prominent ridges running down their backs, and the large tympanum visible on the sides of their heads.
Key Identification: The dorsal ridge (ridge down the back) distinguishes green frogs from bullfrogs, along with their smaller size and different coloration patterns. Some individuals display bronze or olive tones mixed with green.
Habitat & Behavior: Green frogs thrive in similar wetland environments as bullfrogs but prefer slightly shallower waters and areas with more aquatic vegetation. They’re active predators that feed on insects and smaller arthropods. These frogs remain active through warm months and display less aggressive territorial behavior than bullfrogs.
Common Mistake: Many people confuse green frogs with bullfrogs due to similar habitats, but the call is your best clue—that distinctive “gunk” sound is unmistakably green frog.
3. Northern Leopard Frog
The northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens) earns its name from the distinctive dark spots that cover its body like a leopard’s markings. These medium-sized frogs reach 2 to 3.5 inches and display bright green or brownish coloring with irregular dark blotches.
You might hear them producing a low-pitched snoring or growling call during breeding season, though they’re generally quieter than many frog species.
Key Identification: The numerous dark spots and irregular shape of those spots distinguish leopard frogs from spotted frogs (which have regular circular spots). Leopard frogs also display a light-colored line running along their jaw.
Habitat & Behavior: Northern leopard frogs prefer cool, well-oxygenated waters in marshes, meadows, and pond edges across northern and central North America. These frogs are highly aquatic and remain close to water sources. They’re active during daylight hours and use their powerful hind legs to make impressive leaps when threatened—they can jump up to 6 feet in a single bound.
Important Note: Many leopard frog populations have declined significantly due to habitat loss and water pollution, making conservation efforts increasingly important.
4. Southern Leopard Frog
The southern leopard frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus) shares many characteristics with its northern cousin but occupies warmer territories throughout the southeastern United States.
Reaching 2 to 3 inches long, these frogs display green or brownish coloring with the characteristic dark spots. Their call differs from northern leopard frogs—a distinctive low-pitched snore that can be heard in chorus during breeding season.
Key Identification: Southern leopard frogs display more irregular spotting patterns and tend toward slightly darker coloration than northern varieties. Their geographic range and specific spot patterns provide additional identification clues.
Habitat & Behavior: You’ll find southern leopard frogs in wetlands, marshes, swamps, and temporary pools across the Southeast. These highly aquatic frogs breed in shallow, temporary bodies of water where predators like fish are absent. Their preference for warm-season breeding means they remain active through extended warm periods.
Key Insight: The leopard frog group demonstrates how closely related species adapt to different climate zones across North America while maintaining similar ecological roles.
5. Plains Leopard Frog
The plains leopard frog (Lithobates blairi) represents a more specialized species adapted to the drier, flatter regions of central North America. Similar in size to other leopard frogs (2 to 3.5 inches), these frogs display green to brown coloring with characteristic dark spots.
Their call represents a distinctive rapid clicking or rattling sound that echoes through prairie wetlands during breeding season.
Key Identification: Plains leopard frogs show more uniform spot patterns compared to northern and southern varieties, with spots arranged in more regular rows across their backs.
Habitat & Behavior: These frogs specialize in temporary prairie wetlands, playa lakes, and seasonal ponds where they must breed quickly before water evaporates. This adaptation requires rapid development from tadpoles to adults. Plains leopard frogs demonstrate remarkable ability to thrive in grassland ecosystems with unpredictable water availability.
Pro Tip: If you explore prairie regions in spring, listen for their distinctive rattling call to locate breeding populations.
6. Pickerel Frog
The pickerel frog (Lithobates palustris) displays a striking appearance quite different from leopard frogs, featuring square-shaped dark spots arranged in regular rows across its back.
Reaching 1.75 to 3 inches long, these frogs show yellowish or orange coloring on their inner thighs. Their call consists of a low-pitched snore or grunt, often heard in chorus from marshy areas.
Key Identification: The square (rather than irregular) spot pattern and the distinctive bright orange-yellow coloring on their inner legs and belly immediately distinguish pickerel frogs from all other spotted frog species. This coloring serves as a warning to predators.
Habitat & Behavior: Pickerel frogs prefer cool, clean waters in northern regions, particularly around springs, seepage areas, and limestone regions. They’re less aquatic than leopard frogs and often spend time on land in wooded areas. These frogs produce a toxic skin secretion that deters many predators—the bright coloring warns potential threats of this defense mechanism.
Important Note: The toxins pickerel frogs produce can actually harm other frogs if kept together in captivity, so they shouldn’t be housed with other amphibian species.
7. Wood Frog
The wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) represents North America’s most northerly frog species, inhabiting regions from the eastern United States through Canada and into Alaska.
Reaching 1.5 to 2.25 inches, these small frogs display reddish-brown or tan coloring with a distinctive dark eye mask that resembles a burglar’s mask. Their call sounds like a rapid quacking or clicking—often described as resembling ducks—and they’re among the earliest frogs to breed in spring.
Key Identification: The dark eye mask combined with small size and tan or reddish-brown coloring makes wood frogs distinctive. Despite their small size, they produce remarkably loud calls that travel considerable distances.
Habitat & Behavior: Wood frogs spend most of their time in forests, woodlands, and areas away from water except during breeding season. They breed explosively in temporary pools and ditches early in spring—sometimes before ice has completely melted from surrounding areas. This early breeding strategy reduces competition and predation pressure from aquatic insects and dragonfly nymphs.
Key Insight: Wood frogs survive freezing temperatures through a remarkable adaptation: they produce glucose in their cells that acts as an antifreeze, allowing them to survive with a significant portion of their body frozen solid during winter.
8. Spring Peeper
The spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) earns its name from its high-pitched “peep” call that signals the arrival of spring across much of eastern North America.
These tiny frogs measure just 0.75 to 1.25 inches—among the smallest frogs you’ll encounter. Despite their diminutive size, spring peepers produce calls that can reach up to 100 decibels in chorus, creating a deafening chorus that announces spring’s arrival.
Key Identification: Spring peepers display tan, brown, or gray coloring with a distinctive dark X-shaped marking on their backs. Their tiny size and this X-shaped marking provide reliable identification.
Habitat & Behavior: These frogs breed in temporary pools, ditches, marshes, and any shallow water body—even small wetlands created by human activity. During non-breeding season, they disperse into forests and wooded areas where they hunt small insects on vegetation. They’re primarily nocturnal and remain well-hidden during daylight hours.
Pro Tip: The incredible volume of spring peeper choruses comes from their throat sacs, which amplify their calls to extraordinary levels. A single spring peeper’s call might seem modest, but hundreds or thousands in chorus create one of nature’s most remarkable soundscapes.
9. Boreal Chorus Frog
The boreal chorus frog (Pseudacris maculata) inhabits northern regions from the Great Lakes westward through Canada. These small frogs reach 0.75 to 1.3 inches and display gray, green, or brown coloring often with dark stripes running down their backs. Their call sounds like a rapid series of musical trills or “creeks,” higher-pitched than many frog calls.
Key Identification: Boreal chorus frogs show less distinct patterns than western chorus frogs, with stripes that may be faint or prominent depending on individual variation. Their small size and northern range help distinguish them.
Habitat & Behavior: These frogs breed in shallow pools, ditches, and temporary wetlands across boreal forests and grasslands. They’re among the first frogs to breed each spring and can breed in surprisingly cool water temperatures. During breeding season, males gather in large choruses where their combined calls can reach impressive volume levels.
Common Mistake: Boreal chorus frogs and western chorus frogs occupy different geographic ranges but look remarkably similar—geographic location provides the most reliable identification clue.
10. Western Chorus Frog
The western chorus frog (Pseudacris triseriata) occupies western and central North America, displaying similar size (0.75 to 1.5 inches) and appearance to boreal chorus frogs.
These small frogs show gray, green, brown, or reddish coloring with three lighter stripes running the length of their bodies. Their call consists of rapid trills that sound like fingernails dragged across a comb.
Key Identification: Western chorus frogs typically display three more distinct stripes compared to boreal chorus frogs, though this can vary. Their western and central range provides geographic distinction.
Habitat & Behavior: These frogs breed in shallow temporary wetlands, prairie pools, and grassland depressions throughout their range. They can survive in drier habitats than many frogs and breed quickly in temporary water sources that may disappear within weeks. This adaptation allows them to thrive in semi-arid regions where permanent water is scarce.
Key Insight: Chorus frogs represent remarkable adaptations to unpredictable water availability—their rapid breeding cycles complete before temporary pools dry up.
11. Upland Chorus Frog
The upland chorus frog (Pseudacris feriarum) occupies southeastern and mid-Atlantic regions, representing the southernmost chorus frog species.
Reaching 0.75 to 1.25 inches, these tiny frogs display brown, gray, or tan coloring often with three light stripes or blotches. Their call produces a distinctive metallic trill, often described as resembling a cricket’s chirp.
Key Identification: Upland chorus frogs show less consistent stripe patterns than western chorus frogs, with some individuals displaying blotches instead of distinct stripes. Their southeastern geographic range provides additional identification support.
Habitat & Behavior: Unlike their northern and western cousins that rely on temporary pools, upland chorus frogs breed in a variety of water sources including more permanent wetlands. They remain active throughout extended warm seasons in southern regions, sometimes producing multiple breeding rounds per year. These frogs spend considerable time on land compared to more aquatic species.
Pro Tip: The metallic quality of their calls makes them distinctive even within chorus frog groups—once you hear one, you’ll recognize it again.
12. Blanchard’s Cricket Frog
Blanchard’s cricket frog (Acris blanchardi) represents one of North America’s smallest frogs, measuring just 0.5 to 1.1 inches. Despite their tiny size, these frogs display remarkable energy and activity levels.
They show variable coloring—green, brown, or gray—often with darker stripes or patterns. Their call produces a distinctive cricket-like chirping sound that resembles actual crickets, earning them their common name.
Key Identification: Blanchard’s cricket frogs show prominent ridges running down the middle of their heads and characteristic coloration patterns. Their extremely small size and active behavior distinguish them from other tiny frogs.
Habitat & Behavior: Cricket frogs occupy the edges of shallow wetlands, marshes, and temporary pools where they remain active during daylight hours—unusual for most frog species. They’re incredibly agile and can leap up to 10 times their body length. These frogs remain active through warmer months, producing calls throughout the day and into evening hours.
Important Note: Cricket frog populations have declined significantly across their range due to habitat loss and wetland degradation, making them a species of conservation concern.
13. Northern Cricket Frog
The northern cricket frog (Acris crepitans crepitans) occupies eastern North America, representing the northern subspecies of the cricket frog group.
Measuring 0.6 to 1.1 inches, these tiny frogs display green, brown, or gray coloring often with darker stripes. Their call produces a rapid, metallic chirping sound—distinctly cricket-like and often heard in daylight hours.
Key Identification: Northern cricket frogs display similar small size and active behavior as Blanchard’s cricket frogs, with geographic location providing subspecific identification. Coloration patterns can vary, but the metallic chirp call is distinctive.
Habitat & Behavior: These frogs prefer slightly larger bodies of water than Blanchard’s cricket frogs and show less preference for temporary pools. Northern cricket frogs remain active during warm months and spend considerable time basking on vegetation and exposed surfaces. Their diurnal (daytime) activity sets them apart from most frog species.
Key Insight: Cricket frogs represent an unusual ecological role—they’re active during times when most frogs remain hidden, allowing them to exploit different feeding opportunities.
14. Cope’s Gray Treefrog
Cope’s gray treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) represents one of North America’s smallest tree frogs, measuring just 1.2 to 2 inches. These tiny frogs display gray, green, or brown coloring with irregular dark patterns.
Perhaps most distinctively, they possess adhesive toe pads that allow them to climb vertical surfaces and cling to leaves and branches. Their call produces a fast trill that sounds distinctly different from the gray treefrog.
Key Identification: Cope’s gray treefrogs show virtually identical appearance to gray treefrogs (they were once considered the same species), but their call provides reliable distinction—Cope’s produces a faster, higher-pitched trill. Genetic testing confirms they’re separate species despite nearly identical appearance.
Habitat & Behavior: These tree frogs occupy wooded areas, particularly mixed forests where they hunt insects on leaves and branches. They breed in tree holes, abandoned woodpecker cavities, and other elevated water sources rather than ground-level pools. This breeding strategy keeps eggs and tadpoles safe from many ground-dwelling predators.
Pro Tip: Listening to their calls provides the most reliable field identification method—once you hear the difference, you’ll distinguish them from gray treefrogs with ease.
15. Gray Treefrog
The gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor) represents a larger tree frog species measuring 1.25 to 2.25 inches. Like Cope’s gray treefrog, these frogs display adhesive toe pads for climbing and show gray, green, or brown coloring with intricate patterns.
The underside of their thighs displays bright orange or yellow coloring, which becomes visible when they leap or jump. Their call produces a distinctive bird-like trill.
Key Identification: Gray treefrogs show the characteristic orange-yellow thigh coloring that distinguishes them from many other tree frogs. The gray treefrog’s trill call differs from Cope’s—slower and lower-pitched, resembling a bird’s call.
Habitat & Behavior: These tree frogs spend their entire lives in trees and shrubs, rarely descending to ground level. They breed in tree cavities, rain gutters, and other elevated water sources. During the day, they remain motionless on tree bark where their coloration provides camouflage against detection. They’re strictly nocturnal hunters, emerging at night to pursue insects on vegetation.
Common Mistake: Gray treefrogs and Cope’s gray treefrogs look nearly identical—their calls and geographic ranges provide better identification clues than visual appearance.
16. Green Tree Frog
The green tree frog (Hyla cinerea) represents a small, bright green tree frog measuring 1.25 to 2.25 inches. Their vivid green coloring provides remarkable camouflage against vegetation, making them challenging to spot despite their conspicuous bright color.
A thin yellow stripe runs down each side of their body. Their call produces a distinctive raspy “quonk” sound, often described as resembling a honking horn.
Key Identification: The bright green coloring and diminutive size distinguish green tree frogs from most other species. Their strict southeastern range also helps confirm identification.
Habitat & Behavior: Green tree frogs inhabit cypress swamps, wetlands, and wooded areas throughout the southeastern United States. They spend most of their time in vegetation above water, hunting insects on leaves and branches at night. These frogs remain motionless during daylight, relying on their green coloration for camouflage. They breed by depositing eggs on vegetation overhanging water sources.
Key Insight: The bright green coloring serves multiple purposes—it provides camouflage against green vegetation while potentially serving as warning coloration about their mild toxins.
17. Barking Tree Frog
The barking tree frog (Hyla gratiosa) represents one of the largest tree frog species in North America, reaching 2 to 2.75 inches. These robust tree frogs display distinctive bright green coloring, though some individuals show yellowish or pale tones.
Their call produces a loud, distinctive barking sound—resembling a small dog’s bark—that can be heard considerable distances. This loud call is unusual for tree frogs and has made them popular in the pet trade.
Key Identification: The large size combined with bright green coloring and rough, bumpy texture distinguishes barking tree frogs. The distinctive barking call provides unmistakable identification.
Habitat & Behavior: Barking tree frogs occupy cypress swamps, wetlands, and wooded areas throughout the southeastern United States and into Florida. They’re more robust and powerful climbers than most other tree frogs. These frogs breed in shallow pools, both at ground level and in elevated water sources. Their dramatic vocalizations make them conspicuous during breeding season, whereas they remain hidden and silent during non-breeding periods.
Pro Tip: The loud barking call during breeding season makes these frogs relatively easy to locate compared to cryptic frog species—visit southeastern wetlands during warm months to hear them.
18. Squirrel Tree Frog
The squirrel tree frog (Hyla squirella) represents one of the smaller tree frog species, measuring just 1 to 1.75 inches. These diminutive frogs display variable coloring—green, gray, brown, or even reddish tones—often with darker patterns.
Their call produces a distinctive high-pitched “squeak” or chirping sound that resembles a young squirrel’s distress call, earning them their common name.
Key Identification: The small size and extremely variable coloration make visual identification challenging. The distinctive squeaking call provides more reliable identification than appearance.
Habitat & Behavior: Squirrel tree frogs inhabit wooded areas, cypress swamps, and mixed forests throughout the southeastern United States. They remain active during daylight hours (more so than many tree frogs) and remain active throughout extended warm seasons. These frogs breed in various water sources—from tree holes to temporary pools—and show less specialization in breeding habitat compared to many tree frog species.
Common Mistake: The variable coloration leads many observers to confuse squirrel tree frogs with other small tree frog species, but the squeaking call provides definitive identification.
19. Pine Woods Tree Frog
The pine woods tree frog (Hyla andersonii) represents a tiny, specialized tree frog measuring 1 to 1.5 inches. These frogs display bright green coloring with distinctive white or cream-colored stripes running down their sides.
A reddish tint sometimes appears on their underside. Their call produces a distinctive metallic “tonk” sound, unlike any other frog species.
Key Identification: The bright green coloring combined with the distinctive white side stripes provides reliable visual identification. The metallic “tonk” call is virtually unmistakable.
Habitat & Behavior: Pine woods tree frogs represent a highly specialized species occupying only specific pine flatwoods habitats in the southeastern United States, particularly in Florida. These frogs breed exclusively in temporary pools formed in pine flatwoods during rainy seasons. Their highly specialized habitat requirements have made them a species of conservation concern.
Important Note: Pine woods tree frogs represent one of North America’s most habitat-specialized frog species, with their entire population depending on preservation of specific pine flatwoods ecosystems.
20. Mountain Chorus Frog
The mountain chorus frog (Pseudacris brachyphona) occupies Appalachian and adjacent regions, representing a chorus frog species adapted to mountainous terrain.
These small frogs measure 0.75 to 1.25 inches and display brown, gray, or greenish coloring with darker stripes or blotches. Their call produces a distinctive metallic trill with a pleasant musical quality.
Key Identification: Mountain chorus frogs display similar small size to other chorus frog species, with striped or blotched patterns on their backs. Their Appalachian range and distinctive call provide identification guidance.
Habitat & Behavior: Unlike western and boreal chorus frogs that breed in temporary grassland pools, mountain chorus frogs breed in various permanent and semi-permanent water sources in forested mountainous regions. They occupy forest floors and wooded wetlands throughout the year, with males gathering in breeding choruses during spring months. These frogs show preference for well-forested habitats compared to more open grassland species.
Key Insight: Mountain chorus frogs demonstrate how chorus frog adaptations vary geographically—mountain populations evolved different breeding strategies suited to forested terrain.
21. Eastern Narrow-Mouthed Toad
The eastern narrow-mouthed toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis) represents a highly specialized small frog measuring just 0.75 to 1.25 inches. Despite being called a “toad,” these frogs are true toads with warty skin and stocky builds.
They display brown, gray, or reddish coloring with darker patterns. Their call produces a distinctive high-pitched buzzing or bleating sound that resembles a sheep’s bleat.
Key Identification: The extremely small size combined with stocky build, warty skin, and pointed snout distinguishes narrow-mouthed toads from other frog species. Their distinctive bleating call provides unmistakable identification.
Habitat & Behavior: Eastern narrow-mouthed toads inhabit wooded areas, cypress swamps, and wetland margins throughout the southeastern United States. They spend most of their time hidden under logs, leaf litter, and debris, emerging to feed on ants and termites—their preferred diet. Their specialized diet and secretive behavior make them challenging to observe despite their loud breeding calls.
Pro Tip: Listen for their sheep-like bleating during warm evenings in spring and summer to locate these elusive frogs. Once you hear them, their abundance may surprise you.
22. Great Plains Narrow-Mouthed Toad
The great plains narrow-mouthed toad (Gastrophryne olivacea) occupies central and southwestern North America, representing the western counterpart to the eastern narrow-mouthed toad.
Similar in size (0.75 to 1.3 inches) and appearance, these toads display gray, brown, or olive coloring. Their call produces a distinctive high-pitched buzz or buzz-like sound.
Key Identification: Great plains narrow-mouthed toads display similar characteristics to eastern narrow-mouthed toads, with geographic range providing primary identification distinction. Coloration tends slightly more olive in plains populations.
Habitat & Behavior: Great plains narrow-mouthed toads occupy grasslands, prairies, and semi-arid regions where they hide in prairie dog burrows, small mammal burrows, and other subterranean refuges. They emerge during warm, humid evenings to feed on ants and termites. These specialized hunters depend on abundant ant and termite colonies for survival.
Key Insight: The great plains narrow-mouthed toad demonstrates remarkable adaptation to prairie ecosystems—a habitat most frogs find uninhabitable.
23. Eastern Spadefoot
The eastern spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii) earns its name from the distinctive spade-like structure on its hind feet, which it uses to burrow backward into soil.
Measuring 1.75 to 2.25 inches, these stocky toads display gray, brown, or reddish coloring with two light-colored stripes running down their backs. Their call produces a distinctive metallic, bell-like sound.
Key Identification: The characteristic spade-like hind foot structure provides definitive identification, though this feature requires close examination. The two prominent light stripes on their backs distinguish them from other burrowing toads.
Habitat & Behavior: Eastern spadefoots inhabit sandy and loose soil areas where they burrow into the ground during dry periods. They emerge and breed explosively in temporary pools following heavy rains. This breeding strategy allows them to complete their entire aquatic life cycle before temporary pools dry up. During non-breeding periods, they remain buried in soil, emerging only during warm, rainy weather.
Important Note: Spadefoot populations depend heavily on preservation of temporary vernal pools—these specialized breeding habitats are increasingly threatened by development and habitat alteration.
24. Plains Spadefoot
The plains spadefoot (Scaphiopus bombifrons) occupies western grasslands and prairie regions, representing the plains counterpart to the eastern spadefoot.
Similar in size (1.5 to 2.5 inches) and stocky build, these toads display gray, brown, or greenish coloring with subtle patterning. Their call produces a distinctive nasal, honking sound quite different from the eastern spadefoot’s bell-like call.
Key Identification: Plains spadefoots display the characteristic spade-like hind feet of their relatives, with slightly more robust build than eastern spadefoots. Their western range and distinctive honking call provide identification guidance.
Habitat & Behavior: Plains spadefoots inhabit semi-arid grasslands and prairie regions where they burrow into loose soil and sand. They demonstrate remarkable adaptation to dry climates, remaining dormant underground for extended periods until rains trigger breeding emergence. Their explosive breeding allows rapid completion of aquatic stages before temporary pools desiccate.
Key Insight: Spadefoot toads represent remarkable adaptations to unpredictable prairie and grassland climates—no other frog group demonstrates such specialized burrowing abilities.
25. American Toad
The american toad (Anaxyrus americanus) represents one of North America’s most widespread and familiar toad species, measuring 2 to 3.5 inches. These stocky toads display warty brown, gray, or reddish skin with characteristic bumpy texture.
They often show a lighter-colored stripe running down the middle of their backs. Their call produces a distinctive high-pitched, melodious trill lasting several seconds—often described as the most musical toad call.
Key Identification: The warty skin texture combined with the light-colored dorsal stripe distinguishes American toads from other species. Their widespread distribution and large size make them among the most commonly encountered toads.
Habitat & Behavior: American toads occupy diverse habitats—forests, meadows, gardens, and human-modified landscapes throughout eastern and central North America. These terrestrial toads remain active mostly during dawn and dusk hours, hiding under logs and debris during daylight. They’re voracious insect predators, consuming enormous quantities of beetles, ants, and other arthropods. American toads breed explosively in ponds and pools during spring months, with males producing loud breeding choruses.
Pro Tip: American toads actively inhabit gardens and yards, where they provide valuable insect control services. Creating shallow water sources encourages breeding populations.
26. Fowler’s Toad
Fowler’s toad (Anaxyrus fowleri) represents a close relative of the American toad, measuring 1.75 to 3.25 inches with similar stocky build and warty skin.
These toads display gray, brown, or olive coloring with darker patterns and bumpy texture. Unlike American toads, Fowler’s toads lack a prominent light-colored dorsal stripe. Their call produces a nasal, sheep-like bleating sound quite different from the musical American toad call.
Key Identification: The absence of a light-colored dorsal stripe distinguishes Fowler’s toads from American toads. The distinctive nasal bleating call provides definitive identification.
Habitat & Behavior: Fowler’s toads prefer sandy and loose-soil habitats near water sources, occupying coastal plains and sandy regions throughout the Atlantic coast and into the Midwest. They remain active mostly during dawn and dusk, emerging to hunt insects. These toads breed in sandy-bottomed pools and ditches, with males producing distinctive bleating choruses during breeding season. They’re less common in human-modified landscapes compared to American toads.
Common Mistake: Distinguishing between American and Fowler’s toads requires careful observation—the dorsal stripe, call type, and habitat preferences all provide identification clues.
27. Woodhouse’s Toad
Woodhouse’s toad (Anaxyrus woodhousii) occupies central and western North America, representing the western counterpart to the American toad. Measuring 1.75 to 3 inches, these stocky toads display gray, brown, or greenish coloring with prominent light-colored dorsal stripe.
Their call produces a distinctive high-pitched trill, somewhat similar to American toads but with different qualities.
Key Identification: Woodhouse’s toads display the characteristic light-colored dorsal stripe like American toads, with geographic range providing primary distinction. Their more robust size and coloration patterns help differentiate them.
Habitat & Behavior: Woodhouse’s toads inhabit grasslands, prairies, and semi-arid regions throughout the Great Plains and western North America. They’re highly adaptable toads that tolerate drier habitats compared to most frog species. These toads breed in various water sources—ponds, pools, ditches, and temporary pools—with males producing loud breeding choruses during warm months. They’re voracious insect predators that can consume enormous quantities of arthropods.
Key Insight: Woodhouse’s toads demonstrate remarkable adaptation to dry western environments where many amphibians cannot survive.
28. Great Plains Toad
The great plains toad (Anaxyrus cognatus) represents one of the most specialized prairie-adapted toad species, measuring 1.75 to 2.75 inches. These stocky toads display gray, brown, or greenish coloring with distinctive large, prominent bumps and crests on their heads.
A distinctive lighter-colored stripe runs down the middle of their backs. Their call produces a distinctly musical trill with rolling, melodious qualities.
Key Identification: The large, prominent crests and bumps on the head distinguish great plains toads from other toad species. The distinctive light-colored dorsal stripe provides additional identification support.
Habitat & Behavior: Great plains toads specialize in grassland, prairie, and semi-arid regions throughout central North America. They demonstrate remarkable burrowing abilities and spend considerable time buried in soil, emerging during warm, humid weather to hunt insects. These toads breed explosively in temporary pools following heavy rains, completing their entire aquatic life cycle before pools desiccate. The rapid breeding strategy reduces egg and tadpole exposure to predators and environmental stress.
Pro Tip: Listen for their distinctive musical trilling during warm evenings following rain in prairie regions—they’ll emerge in extraordinary numbers during breeding season.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve learned about these 28 remarkable frog and toad species, you possess knowledge to identify and understand the amphibians inhabiting different regions across North America.
Each species tells a story about adaptation, ecology, and the specialized niches they occupy—from tiny cricket frogs inhabiting wetland margins to spadefoot toads surviving in semi-arid grasslands.
The next time you hear that familiar chorus of ribbiting sounds on a warm spring evening, you’ll recognize the individual voices within that remarkable chorus. That deep “jug-o-rum” belongs to a bullfrog.
The high-pitched peeping comes from spring peepers. The rapid trilling reflects chorus frogs adjusting to changing seasonal conditions. Understanding these distinctions transforms you from a passive listener into an engaged naturalist who truly comprehends the living world around you.
These 28 species represent millions of years of evolutionary adaptation—each perfectly suited to its specific habitat and ecological role. Some remain strictly aquatic, never venturing far from water.
Others spend most of their lives in trees, descending only to breed. Still others burrow into soil, emerging only when rainfall creates breeding opportunities. This remarkable diversity demonstrates the incredible adaptability of amphibians and their importance to healthy ecosystems across North America.
Consider supporting frog and toad conservation by protecting and restoring wetlands, maintaining vernal pool habitats, and reducing chemical pollution in water systems.
Even small actions—creating shallow water features in gardens, leaving dead wood and leaf litter to provide shelter, and reducing pesticide use—contribute meaningfully to amphibian survival and population stability.
By learning to identify, appreciate, and protect these 28 American frog and toad species, you become part of a growing community of naturalists dedicated to understanding and preserving the incredible amphibian diversity that makes North American ecosystems vibrant and resilient.
