Species · GBIF taxon 2428182
Spring Peeper
Pseudacris cruciferAlso known as Peeper, Pinkletink
Spring peepers are tiny, elusive tree frogs celebrated for their high-pitched, whistle-like chorus that signals the arrival of spring across eastern North America. These nocturnal amphibians spend most of the year camouflaged in the leaf litter of moist woodlands, venturing to wetlands only to breed. Their remarkable ability to survive freezing winter temperatures relies on a natural antifreeze in their blood, allowing them to thaw out and sing as soon as the ice melts.
NocturnalAmphibianVocal
Licensed reference(c) Fredlyfish4, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
- diet
- Small insects, spiders, ants, and beetles
- family
- Hylidae
- threats
- Wetland drainage, water pollution, and suburban development
- life Span
- 3 to 4 years
LC
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- Listen closely: Locate them by following their loud, piping whistles to the water's edge on warm spring nights.
- Watch your step: Look for the dark, X-shaped mark on their backs when searching through damp leaf litter.
- Minimize light: Use a red flashlight beam to observe calling males without startling them into silence.