Amphibians
Upland Chorus Frog
Pseudacris feriarum · also called upland chorus frogs
On one of the first mild nights of the year, with ice still clinging to the pond’s edges, an upland chorus frog begins calling, a rising sound like a fingernail dragged across a comb announcing that spring breeding season has arrived before most other frogs have even stirred.
Overview
The upland chorus frog, Pseudacris feriarum, is a small insectivorous frog native to grassland and temporary wetland habitat across the eastern and central United States. Its distinctive comb-like call and habit of breeding in the earliest, coldest nights of spring make it one of the first amphibian voices to be heard each year across its range.
First to call, first to breed
While most frogs wait for warmer, more settled conditions, the upland chorus frog rushes to breed the moment temporary ponds fill and temperatures allow, racing to complete its life cycle before those same seasonal ponds dry up again.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and common across suitable habitat throughout the eastern and central United States.
Upland Chorus Frog: common questions
What does the upland chorus frog sound like?
The upland chorus frog produces a distinctive rising call often described as sounding like a fingernail being dragged along the teeth of a comb, a memorable and fairly easy way to identify the species by ear even before spotting the small, well-camouflaged frog itself.
Why does the upland chorus frog breed so early in the year?
An upland chorus frog often begins breeding activity on the very first mild nights of early spring, sometimes while ice still lingers near the pond's edges, a strategy that allows the species to use temporary, fishless breeding ponds before they potentially dry up or become colonised by fish later in the season.
Why does the upland chorus frog prefer temporary ponds?
The upland chorus frog favours temporary, fishless ponds and wetlands specifically because these seasonal water bodies lack the fish predators that would otherwise pose a serious threat to its eggs and tadpoles, a trade-off that requires breeding and completing development before the pond potentially dries out.
Where does the upland chorus frog live?
The upland chorus frog is native to grassland, forest edge, and temporary wetland habitat across much of the eastern and central United States, spending most of the year on land away from water outside its brief spring breeding period.