Mnemonics for Frog and Toad Calls of Tennessee (A Trigger To Aid Memory)

Frogs and toads are most often monitored via the use of call count surveys. The following list was developed to assist students in memorizing frog and toad calls before conducting fieldwork. Some of the scientific names have been changed and are no longer valid!

Species Voice or Mnemonic E. Spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii) A low pitched, calf-like sound, short in duration and repeated Am. Toad (Bufo americanus) Long, loud musical trill (pleasant sound of spring) Fowler's Toad (Bufo woodhousii) A nasal w-a-a-a-h (sounds “fowl”) Gopher Frog (Rana capito) Deep, lazy snore – lower than river frog American Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) Vibrant, bass notes – “jug-o-rum” Green Frog (Rana clamitans) Like a loose banjo string - abrupt Pickerel Frog (Rana palustris) Steady, low-pitched nasally snore Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica) Hoarse clacking, similar to ducks feeding or quacking S. Leopard Frog (Rana utricularia) Short, chuckle (guttural in sound) N. Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans) Like two pebbles being clicked together S. Cricket Frog (Acris gryllus) Like a metal clicker in rapid succession Gray Treefrog chrysoscelis = dry, fast trill versicolor = musical, slower trill Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea) Nasal queenk-queenk-queenk Barking Treefrog (Hyla gratiosa) Sounds like a pack of dogs, hence its name “barking” Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) High, piping whistle (up and down) – pip-PIP-pip-PIP Upland Chorus Frog (Pseudacris Fingernail being raked over the teeth of a comb (short and triseriata) abrupt, longer than Brimley’s) E. Narrowmouth Toad Lamb bleat (Gastrophryne carolinensis)