Frog and Toad Sounds: The Complete Guide

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This guide includes the sounds and calls of (nearly!) all the frogs and toads in the lower 48 United States. There are more than 100 frogs and toads in the continental U.S., each with its own unique vocalization.

Whether you want to check out the frog and toad calls of your state, see all the sounds for a particular frog family, or learn more details on sounds of common species, we’ve got you covered!

Tree Frog Sounds

Summary

There are 30 species of tree frogs in the United States.

These species tend to be smaller and have enlarged toe pads to help them climb.

Guides

U.S. Guide: Tree Frog Sounds in the United States

Species Sound Profiles:

Gray Treefrog

Spring Peeper

Pacific Treefrog

True Frog Sounds

Summary

There are 28 true frogs, or water frogs, in the United States.

These species, in the Ranidae family, are medium to large frogs that fit the image most people have of the “average” frog.

Guides

U.S. Guide: True Frog Sounds in the United States

Species Sound Profiles:

Bullfrog

Pickerel Frog

Northern Leopard Frog

Wood Frog

Toad Sounds

Summary

There are 22 true toad species in the United States, and seven spadefoots.

Many, though not all, of these species make trills of varying lengths and musicality.

Guides

U.S. Guide: Toad Sounds and Calls in the United States

Species Sound Profiles:

American Toad

Fowler’s Toad

References and Further Reading

This sound guide draws from a number of sources, including several of the following:

Some of the best quality information online about individual frogs can be found at AmphibiaWeb and Animal Diversity Web. These provide some details on calls, among a host of other valuable content.

A variety of YouTube channels provide great examples of sounds and calls, several of which are included in these pages. These creators range from passionate individuals to state agencies. I recommend you explore more of their content if you’re interested.

Several books provide detailed and well-researched accounts of these frogs, including The Frogs and Toads of North America (2009) by Elliott, Gerhardt, and Davidson and Frogs and Toads of the United States and Canada (2013), by C. Kenneth Dodd.