Pseudacris crucifer
Identification 
The Spring Peeper is one of Vermont’s smallest frogs. Adults are generally 1-1½ inches long. The Spring Peeper has no dorsolateral ridges (folds of skin on either side of its back). It has dark markings on its back that usually form an “X”, and small adhesive discs on its toes. Spring Peepers vary in color from light to dark brown. Adult males are generally smaller than the adult females, and breeding males have black throats and swollen thumbs.
The Spring Peeper’s call can either be a short ascending whistle or it may be broken into a series of ascending peeps. It begins calling as early as March, and can be heard through July. The peak calling time is around the beginning of May. Spring Peepers may also be heard calling in the late summer through fall. This call sounds slightly different (harsher and shorter) than it does the spring, and is usually heard coming from leaf litter instead of from breeding pools.
Spring Peepers lay hundreds of eggs singly or in packages of 2-3 eggs attached to vegetation. Tadpoles metamorphose within 2-3 months.
Get more detailed identification and life history information by downloading the chart here.
You can learn more about this species and see some video footage by checking out this clip from our Rattlers, Peepers & Snappers DVD.
Range/Habitat
[ click image to zoom | download printable PDF ]
[ click image to zoom | download printable PDF ]
Adults can be found in herbaceous vegetation or woods next to heavily vegetated swamps and marshes of all sizes.
Status
Spring Peepers are very common in Vermont. This species has a state natural heritage rank of S5 (common). Please report sightings of this species in Vermont if you have not reported them within the last five years from a given location. Any natural history observations (feeding, migrations, road crossing areas, early or late season appearance, abnormalities, etc.) are appreciated. Photographs are always helpful, particularly if your report is the first report of this species from a town.
Additional Photos
More Info
- Pseudacris crucifer at Animal Diversity website
- Pseudacris crucifer at Amphibiaweb
- Pseudacris crucifer at the Yale Peabody Museum website
- Listen to calls
at AmphibiaWeb (two recordings, both .mp3 format),
at Animal Diversity (.wav format),
at Frog Quiz,
or on YouTube: Spring Peepers calling - fall calls (begin listening at 8:45): Spring Peeper fall calls
Species summary written by Ariel K. McK. Burgess.
