Massachusetts Frog and Toad Sounds

Massachusetts frog sounds are a common feature of many spring and summer evenings. Together with calls of their wartier cousins, the toads, these creatures create a rich symphony. Curious to learn what you’re hearing? You’re in the right place.

There are a wide array of amphibian sounds in Massachusetts, including tree frog sounds, true frog vocalizations, and toad calls. You can hear the croaks, peeps, trills, and various other noises for much of the spring and summer, though peak calling periods vary by species.

Some vocalizations are well known: bullfrog calls and spring peeper sounds are familiar to many beginners, for example. Others, like the Northern Leopard Frog’s snore and Pickerel Frog’s (softer, shorter) snore may be new for many people.

Side view of American bullfrog, a common source of frog sounds in Massachusetts. — A close-up image of an American bullfrog, a common source of evening sound in Massachusetts. Image: iNaturalist.

For all these frogs, I have included only the males’ mating (also known as advertisement) calls, as these are by far the most often heard. While other frogs make other noises, including alarm, release, and territorial calls, these are often short, tough to identify to species, and not often recorded.

If you’re interested in learning more, check out my full guide to frog and toad calls in the United States.

Massachusetts Tree Frog Sounds

There are two species of tree frogs in Massachusetts: the spring peeper and the eastern gray tree frog. These are both members of the Hylidae family and share several physical characteristics, including small, narrow bodies and enlarged toe pads to help climb trees or bushes. However, Massachusetts tree frog sounds are easily distinguished, as you’ll see below.

Eastern Gray Treefrog

Hyla versicolor

The advertisement call of the gray treefrog is a musical trill that lasts about half a second and is repeated every few seconds. While it is similar to the Cope’s Gray Treefrog call, the pulse rate (speed of the call notes) is significantly slower if both frogs are calling in the same temperature.

Spring Peeper

Pseudacris crucifer

One of the most well known sounds in the Eastern United States, the spring peeper’s mating call is a loud, ongoing “peep” that repeats once a second or slightly faster.

Massachusetts True Frogs Sounds and Calls

Five amphibians in Massachusetts are considered “true frogs”, meaning they are members of the Ranidae family. These are the typically medium to large-sized “classic” frogs, the ones that most fit the image that pops up in your mind when someone says “frog”.

Closer examination can reveal a range of physical and vocal differences, however. Read on to learn about the differences among Massachusetts’ true frog sounds and calls.

Bullfrog

Lithobates catesbeianus

The bullfrog mating call is a loud, low-pitched “ruuum, ruuum, ruuuum.” They also have a high-pitched alarm call when they suddenly jump into the water if startled.

Green Frog

Lithobates clamitans

The Green Frog makes a sudden, loud “gunk!”. Many liken it to someone plucking a loose banjo string. They usually call in a few times in a row, with volume and pitch decreasing each time.

Pickerel Frog

Lithobates palustris

Pickerel Frogs make a soft snore that lasts about two seconds, sometimes with a few garbled notes or “gunk!” that sounds similar to the Green Frog. The snore of the Pickerel Frog is much shorter than that of the Northern Leopard Frog.

Northern Leopard Frog

Lithobates pipiens

The Northern Leopard Frog’s mating call is a long snore that lasts at least three seconds, and is often followed with grunts or chuckles. The call usually increases in volume until trailing off at the end.

Wood Frog

Lithobates sylvaticus

The Wood Frog’s call is a series of explosive clucks; some have compared this to the sound of hoarse duck quacks.

Massachusetts Toad Calls

There are two true toads (members of the Bufonidae family) in Massachusetts, and one spadefoot toad (in the Scaphiopodidae family). Like many toads, they make trills that vary in their length and musicality. You’ll likely find some of these sounds pleasing and relaxing, while others may feel harsh and unpleasant. Check out Massachusetts’ toad calls below.

American Toad Calls

Anaxyrus americanus

The mating call is a musical trill that typically lasts between five and thirty seconds. During the breeding season, males’ make sounds that often alternate or overlap, and have slightly different pitches.

Fowler’s Toad Sounds

Anaxyrus fowleri

Fowler’s Toads make a buzzy trill that lasts between one and five seconds. Some people liken the sound to that of a crying baby or a woman screaming. Fowler’s Toads sometimes hybridize with American Toads, and calls end up sounding like a mix of the two species.

Eastern Spadefoot Calls

Scaphiopus holbrookii

The mating call of the Eastern Spadefoot is an explosive noise that sounds a bit like a person gagging. It’s not the most pleasant sound. The noise is repeated every five to ten seconds.

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 whole variety of YouTube channels provide great examples of frog sounds and calls, several of which are included here. These creators range from passionate individuals to state agencies. If you liked a video embedded here, check out more from these channels.

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.