An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Kentucky is home to a wide variety of frogs and toads, each with unique calls, habitats, and life cycles. Explore the groups below to learn more about each species and discover where they are found across the state.
Welcome to the sounds of the frogs and toads of Kentucky. Our 23 species are grouped into five major families, each with distinct characteristics.
The eight species of Kentucky’s true frogs belong to the family Ranidae. They are large to moderate in size with long hind legs, fully webbed toes, and pointed snouts. Males usually call while floating in water. Bullfrogs and Green Frogs call and lay eggs in summer, while Wood Frogs, Pickerel Frogs, Crawfish Frogs, and Leopard Frogs lay egg masses from late winter through early spring.
True toads (family Bufonidae), including the American Toad and Fowler’s Toad, have short hind legs, stocky bodies, and dry warty skin. Males call from shallow water in spring and early summer, producing long strings of eggs.
Treefrogs (family Hylidae) include eleven species in Kentucky. Cricket Frogs are small and highly adapted for jumping and breed in summer. Chorus frogs and Spring Peepers are small, ground-dwelling frogs that breed in late winter through spring. Larger treefrogs have sticky toe pads for climbing and breed in late spring through summer.
The final two species are the Eastern Narrowmouth Toad and Eastern Spadefoot. These unique frogs are adapted for burrowing and often emerge during heavy rains to breed in temporary pools.
Frog calling activity varies by season and region, but several species—including Spring Peeper, American Toad, Fowler’s Toad, Cope’s Gray Treefrog, Green Frog, and American Bullfrog—are found throughout Kentucky.
Click on each group to see images and more details of frogs and toads in that group.
(includes American Toad, Fowler's Toad and Eastern Spadefoot)
(includes Upland Chorus Frog, Midland Chorus Frog, Spring Peeper, Mountain Chorus Frog, Eastern Narrow-mouthed Frog, Northern Cricket Frog and Blanchard's Cricket Frog)
(includes Cope's Gray Treefrog, Eastern Gray Treefrog, Bird-voiced Treefrog, Hickman Hybrid, Barking Treefrog, and Green Treefrog)
(includes Wood Frog, Northern Crawfish Frog, Southern Leopard Frog, Plains Leopard Frog, Northern Leopard Frog, Pickerel Frog, Green Frog, American Bullfrog)
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