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Nature's Solace
Celebrating Nature in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Tree Frog -- Pseudacris regilla
Typically growing less than two inches long, the identifying feature, aside from the tiny size, is the dark stripe from nose to its shoulders and tiny round pads at the tips of its toes. This frog, seen at the Nisqually NWR in Wa. was settled quietly and perfectly still, blending into the blade of grass. Although they are named a "tree" frog, trees are not their main habitat.
A very small - and very cute - frog with a big voice - hence the alternative common name "chorus frog". Think of the classic "ribbit" frog sound, like the one that movies use world wide. That's the male Pacific tree frog - a "movie star"of sorts. This call may be repeated over and over to attract the females during its breeding season of November to July. When other males join in, large concentrations of them can be heard from far away. Another common call, thought to be territorial, is the single note
"krr-r-r-ek". This is typically heard when the air humidity is high. LISTEN TO HIS CALL HERE.
As the name implies, the Pacific Tree frog is native to California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. However, Washington gave this frog the honor of becoming its state frog in 2007, due to the fact that it's Washington's most common and widespread of frogs. Not only a frog of wetlands, the Pacific Tree frog spends its non-breeding months upland. Glands in its skin secrete a waxy coating that keeps them moist.
A frog of many colors, from shades of green, tan, reddish, grey, brown or black. Some stay the same color year round while others change their color to match the environment. Unlike camouflage, which is an instant change, this color change takes place over weeks. For example, think spring with the fresh green growth. A green frog like this one will nicely blend in. As the season progresses and the foliage and ground turn brown, so too may the frog. Other variations may serve this purpose as well. This may be an advantage to the frog, helping to keep it from becoming the dinner of one of its predators, ie. bullfrogs, herons and snakes.
To view color variations, view Tough Little Birds.
This earthy colored tree frog lived in the forest.
All tree frogs share the characteristic dark "mask that extends from the nose to the shoulder.
This green tree frog lived at the edge of the wetland
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