Amphibians
Squirrel Treefrog
Hyla squirella · also called squirrel tree frog, rain frog
A squirrel treefrog clings beside a porch light, green one evening and brownish-grey the next, its colour shifting with the temperature, the humidity, and whatever surface it happens to be resting against. Locals in parts of its range gave it a second name, rain frog, after noticing it tends to call more insistently right before a storm rolls in.
Overview
The squirrel treefrog, Hyla squirella, is a small, colour-shifting treefrog native to forest and wetland habitat across the southeastern United States. It frequently turns up around buildings and outdoor lighting, drawn by the insects these structures attract.
A frog with two names and one raspy voice
Between its unpredictable colour changes and a scolding, squirrel-like call that gave the species its common name, the squirrel treefrog manages to be simultaneously easy to hear and genuinely tricky to identify by sight alone.
Status
Least Concern — common and widespread across suitable habitat throughout the southeastern United States, including areas around human structures.
Squirrel Treefrog: common questions
Why is the squirrel treefrog sometimes called a rain frog?
The squirrel treefrog is sometimes nicknamed the rain frog because it tends to call more actively in the period leading up to rainfall, a pattern noticed by local residents in parts of its range that has made the species something of an informal natural weather predictor, even though the correlation with rain is not perfectly reliable.
How quickly can a squirrel treefrog change colour?
A squirrel treefrog can shift between a range of green, brown, and grey shades relatively quickly in response to changes in temperature, humidity, the colour of its immediate surroundings, or general activity level, making its exact colour at any given moment fairly unpredictable and highly situational.
Why does the squirrel treefrog's call sound like a squirrel?
The squirrel treefrog produces a raspy, scolding call that some listeners find reminiscent of the chattering sound made by an agitated squirrel, a vocal similarity that likely played a significant role in how the species came to be named, alongside its general small size and active climbing behaviour.
Why are squirrel treefrogs often found near buildings?
A squirrel treefrog is commonly found around windows, buildings, and outdoor lighting because these structures attract insects at night, providing the frog with a reliable and convenient concentrated food source, making human-altered environments a genuinely attractive habitat feature rather than something the species simply tolerates.