Sunday, June 1, 2008

Cope's Grey Tree Frog - Are you a Boy or are you a Girl?


What a face! We found this little tree frog sitting on a branch in a large clump of glossy privet. The tree has small white flower clusters that are extremely attractive to bees and wasps. It is as prolific as our elderberry (which is a nice way of saying it has an invasive habit, lol.). We've kept it only because of the insect life it attracts to our gardens. The house came with a lot more privet around the property. We've removed most of it.

While this little fellow is not as bright and colorful as some other frogs, his coloration blends in very well with the bark of the tree. He may be a gray tree frog (Hyla versicolor), or a Cope's Grey tree frog (Hyla chrysoscelis).

We are in the Piedmont area of North Carolina so it is more likely the Cope's variety. We're unsure if this is a male or female.