Frog Calls

While I was at the National Botanical Garden I heard a frog call. I almost felt my ears turn to locate the source of the call but was reminded that it was probably a recording, besides I didn't recognize the call. So I thought today I would give some verbal descriptions for common frog calls that can be heard in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.  I copied these from class notes and have no idea who originated these good descriptions but I am very grateful for the person who first wrote them down and passed them along to other frog lovers. I wish I had photos of all the frogs but so far I am missing a few. Perhaps this year I will be able to take a photo of a few more.  The beginning of March we should start hearing Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs.  Keep a look out for them on warm rainy nights.

American Toad – long musical trill “waaaaaaaaaaa…………” lasting up to 30 seconds (range 6-30).

Fowler’s Toad – short unmusical nasal trill “waaaaaaaaaaaa” lasting 1-4 seconds – shorter and harsher than American Toad. Reminds me of someone who ate something foul and is complaining.

Northern Cricket Frog – hesitated clicking “gick, gick, gick” starting slowly then increasing speed for 20-30 clicks. This frog sounds like someone clacking 2 marbles together repeatedly.

Gray Treefrog - hollow musical, wooden trill or similar to call of red-bellied woodpeckers.

Northern Spring Peeper – loud piercing ascending whistle “peep” repeated at 1 second intervals. Our most common calling frog, a full chorus sounds lie sleigh bells and can literally make your ears “ring”.

Upland Chorus Frog – sounds like running your fingernail over the small teeth of a comb “teeeee”, lasts 1-2 seconds, speeding up and rising in pitch at the end. Often heard with peepers, but do not mistake the agonistic call of a peeper for this frog. These are rare in my area but I have heard them near Staufers Marsh in Berkeley County.

Bullfrog – a deep, resonabt, bassy and slog “jog-o’-rum”.


Green Frog – sounds like the twang of a loose banjo string, but explosive, either a single note or repeated 3-4 times, the notes progressively less loud.

Wood Frog – a fast series of short raspy clacking sounds. A full chorus sounds like a flock of quacking ducks.

Northern Leopard Frog – a low guttural snore lasting 1-3 seconds with 20 snores per second, followed by several clucking grunts.

Pickerel Frog – a steady low croak or rolling snore lasting 1-2 seconds.

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