Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Field Guide to Maryland's Frogs and Toads (Order Anura)


Upland Chorus Frog (Pseudacris feriarum)

Photo of Upland Chorus Frog courtesy of John White
 Photo of Upland Chorus Frog courtesy of John White
Photo of Upland Chorus Frog courtesy of John White
Photo of Upland Chorus Frog courtesy of John White
Former Name:

Size:
  • inch to 1 3/8 inches from snout to vent
  • Record: 1 ½ inches

Appearance:

  • Difficult to distinguish between the Upland and New Jersey Chorus Frogs based on appearance so they are usually differentiated by geographic range in Maryland

  • Generally brown or gray but can be extremely variable.

  • There is a light line along the upper lip

  • Usually a dark triangle, pointing backward, between the eyes on the back of the head

  • Usually 3 dark stripes from the snout to the tailbone, two passing through the eyes, and one down the middle of the back. These lines may be broken or spotty.

  • These lines tend to be slightly thicker on New Jersey Chorus frogs.

  • The underside is off-white with occasional spots.


    • Habitats:
    • Wet areas that include slow moving or non-moving water, such as grassy floodplains and wet woods, vernal pools, forested swamps and wet meadows.
    • May be found developed areas, dry fields and urban environments during non-breeding season, as long as there is water nearby.
    • In Maryland, found west of the Susquehanna River to the eastern edge of the Allegheny Plateau in Allegany County.

    How to Find:
    • From February through April, listen for its call, the slow ascending scale of the sound of a finger running up a comb, Creeeeeeeeeek

    Distribution in Maryland:
    New Jersey Chorus Frogs are primarily found on the eastern shore while Upland Chorus Frogs mostly occur on the western shore and into part of western Maryland.
    Maryland Distribution Map for Upland Chorus Frog
    For More Information: