The Southern Chorus Frog might be small, but it sure knows how to make some noise. As one of the earliest singers of spring in the southeastern United States, its trilling calls are often one of the first signs that winter is ending. These tiny frogs are a bit secretive, but if you catch a glimpse or hear their chorus in a marshy area, you’ve met one of nature’s more charming musicians.
Size & Physical Appearance
Southern Chorus Frogs are pretty small. Most adults measure between 0.75 and 1.4 inches long — about the length of a paperclip. Their color can vary from gray to tan or even brown, helping them blend right into leaf litter or muddy water.
A key identifier is the series of dark stripes running down their back and sides. These can be solid or broken lines. They also have a dark stripe that starts from the tip of the snout, runs across the eye, and extends toward the shoulder.
Male and female frogs look quite similar, though males usually have a darker throat because of their vocal sac. Juveniles look like smaller versions of adults but might have lighter or less defined striping.
Habitat and Range
Southern Chorus Frogs are mostly found in the southeastern United States, particularly in lowland areas. Their range includes much of the Coastal Plain from southeastern Virginia through Florida and west to Mississippi and eastern Louisiana.
They thrive in shallow, temporary wetlands such as flooded fields, roadside ditches, pine flatwoods, sandy prairies, and grassy swamps. They often stick to areas with plenty of vegetation and ground cover, where they can hide and stay moist. They’re usually found at low elevations, rarely venturing into mountainous areas.
Diet
These frogs are insectivores, meaning they feed on small bugs and invertebrates. Their diet typically includes ants, beetles, springtails, tiny spiders, and other small arthropods they can fit in their mouth.
Since they’re so small, they focus on tiny prey. If you’re a gardener, these frogs are your friend — they help keep insect numbers in check.
Lifespan
In the wild, Southern Chorus Frogs live around 2 to 3 years. Life expectancy can be a bit longer in captivity, but since they’re not commonly kept as pets, exact numbers are less known.
Identification Tips
Southern Chorus Frogs often get confused with a few similar species, especially other members of the Pseudacris family. Here’s how to tell them apart:
- Upland Chorus Frog (Pseudacris feriarum): Looks similar but tends to have a more consistent stripe along the side, and often found in slightly more northern or elevated habitats.
- Little Grass Frog (Pseudacris ocularis): Even smaller (tiny!) with a more slender build and a more prominent dark stripe through the eye.
- Pine Woods Treefrog (Dryophytes femoralis): A bit larger and more arboreal, and often has orange spots on its hind legs, which Southern Chorus Frogs lack.
A good clue is the opaque, slightly rough skin texture and the frog’s bold side stripes. Listening also helps — their call sounds like a rapid trill or the ratchet of a comb.
Fun Fact
One of the most surprising things about the Southern Chorus Frog? It can breed in freezing temperatures! While most frogs wait for things to warm up, these guys will start calling and laying eggs as early as January or February, especially in the southern part of their range. They sometimes breed before ice has even melted completely — talk about eager.
Whether you’re hiking through a pine forest or hanging out near a marshy ditch in the Southeast come springtime, keep an ear out for a high-pitched trill. Chances are, a Southern Chorus Frog is nearby, keeping old traditions alive as one of the first voices of the amphibian world each year.