The frog sounds of New Hampshire 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 the state, including tree frogcalls, true frog sounds, 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.
A close-up image of an American Toad, a common source of evening sound in New Hampshire. 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.
There are two species of tree frogs in New Hampshire: 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, New Hampshire tree frog calls 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.
Sounds and Calls of New Hampshire’s True Frogs
Six amphibians in New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire’s 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.
Mink Frog
Lithobates septentrionalis
The advertisement call of the Mink Frog is two to four abrupt notes in a row, like someone tapping on wood.
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.
Sounds and Calls of New Hampshire’s Toads
There are two toads (members of the Bufonidae family) in New Hampshire. Like many toads, they trills that vary in their length and musicality. You’ll find some of these sounds pleasing and relaxing, while others feel harsh and unpleasant. Check out New Hampshire’s 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.
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 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.
