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Gray/Cope's Gray Tree Frog

Hyla sp.

Photo by Christine Y.
Published on Project Noah
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41.6055, -73.4534

Field Notes

Description:

Cope's gray tree frog is almost indistinguishable from the gray tree frog, and shares much of its geographic range. Both species can vary in color from gray to green because of their amazing ability to camouflage - they can slowly change color from black to nearly white. The amount of mottling is variable. The only noticeable difference between the two species is their call — Cope's has a faster-paced and slightly higher-pitched call than H. versicolor.

Habitat:

I found this frog early this morning when I was watering flowers on my deck. It was hiding under petunias that hang over the railing.

Notes:

This frog has been living on my deck for at least 5 days now. It hides in a potted plant during the day and comes out and sits on a post at night. I have noticed it's color change throughout each day - very dark gray in the morning, and a mottled light gray/green in the afternoon. The first 3 pictures were taken late in the afternoon, and the last two were taken early in the morning.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (3)

Could this be a female? It's throat is light gray/white. I've gone outside every night for the past 5 days to listen for its call, but it doesn't seem to make one - it's still living on my deck in a potted plant. It crawls out and sits on a post at night (which is under a light AND a large spider's web) where it waits for bugs. I've observed it each night, and have yet to hear a sound...
Thank you for your help Ashley! The frog is still there. I've checked on it a dozen times, including last night, but haven't heard it make any calls. I'll check again today/tonight if it's still there and record the sound, if I hear anything.
Either gray or cope's gray tree frog, just from a photo you can't tell which one. They are both in your area and you would need to hear it call to know which one

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