Mountain Chorus Frog

​Identification:

Mountain Chorus Frogs are about the same size as Spring Peepers (to 1 ½ inch) and generally call over about the same time period (February to July). These frogs are tan or gray to dark brown in color; some are entirely plain above but others have a broad pair of dark curved “reverse-parentheses” on the back. They are common throughout eastern and southern Kentucky, westward to the vicinity of Mammoth Cave National Park, but do not occur in the Bluegrass Region.

Mountain Chorus Frogs breed in temporary woodland pools and are especially likely to be found calling from shallow roadside ditches, shallow pools along tiny streams, and water-filled tire ruts just after a rain. The eggs are laid in thin filmy masses attached to dead leaves, grass stems, and other vegetation. After the breeding season ends these little frogs live in leaf litter on the forest floor and are rarely seen.

The call is a short, harsh, rasping trill repeated about twice per second. Often 2 males will start calling in tandem, each with a different pitch.