The Green Treefrog is one of those amphibians that’s hard not to love. With its bright green color and cheerful, bell-like calls, this little frog is a common sight (and sound) in the southeastern United States, especially on warm summer nights. They’re often seen clinging to windows, patio furniture, or shrubs after a rain — so if you live in their range, chances are you’ve met one already. These lively frogs are also popular in classroom science lessons, making them a familiar face for both students and nature lovers.
Size & Physical Appearance
Green Treefrogs are small but striking. Most adults are about 1.25 to 2.5 inches long, which is roughly the size of a paperclip or a golf tee.
Their skin is smooth and bright green, sometimes leaning toward yellow-green or even light olive depending on age, health, temperature, and lighting. Most individuals have a distinct white or yellowish stripe that runs from their upper lip down their side. Their bellies are pale and unmarked. In breeding season, males may look a bit yellowish due to hormonal changes.
Young frogs (juveniles) may be a more muted green or have spots, and females usually grow a bit larger than males. Males have a darker throat, especially during breeding season when they’re actively calling.
Habitat and Range
Green Treefrogs love warm, humid environments. They’re usually found in or near marshes, swamps, ponds, lakes, and rivers — often hanging out in the tall grasses, reeds, or shrubs nearby. They’re just as comfortable in suburban yards with a bit of standing water and some decent vegetation to hide in.
This species ranges across the southeastern United States, from eastern Texas and Oklahoma, across the Gulf Coast states, and up the Atlantic coastal plain into Maryland and Delaware. They’ve also been introduced in a few areas, like parts of California. They tend to stick to low elevations but may occur up to about 1,000 feet.
Diet
Green Treefrogs are insectivores, which means they eat pretty much anything that crawls or flies and fits in their mouth. Their diet includes crickets, flies, mosquitoes, moths, and spiders. In fact, their love of flying insects is one reason you might spot them hanging out near porch lights at night — they know that’s a buffet waiting to happen.
They’re also known for being patient hunters. Instead of chasing down prey, they often sit and wait, then strike quickly.
Lifespan
In the wild, Green Treefrogs typically live about 2 to 5 years, though some can make it longer, especially with few predators and plenty of food. In captivity, with good care, they may live up to 6 years or more.
Identification Tips
Green Treefrogs are often confused with other small green frogs, especially the Squirrel Treefrog (Hyla squirella), which is similar in size and color.
Here’s how to tell them apart:
- Look for the stripe: Green Treefrogs almost always have a distinct white or yellowish stripe down each side. Squirrel Treefrogs usually don’t, or the stripe is faint and broken.
- Smoother skin: Green Treefrogs tend to look sleeker and smoother, while Squirrel Treefrogs may be more mottled or warty.
- Location helps: Knowing your local frogs helps. If you’re in the southeastern U.S. near water and hear a loud, repeated “quonck” call — it’s probably a Green Treefrog.
Fun Fact
Green Treefrogs can actually change color — though they won’t turn purple or blue. Their green skin can shift to a dull olive or brownish shade based on temperature, light, and stress. This color change helps them blend better into different surroundings and avoid predators.
They’re also the official state amphibian of Georgia and Louisiana — not bad for a little frog.