Boreal Chorus Frog

(Pseudacris maculata)

Boreal Chorus Frog
Photo by Bill Reynolds

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List

not listed

NatureServe

N5 - Secure
S5 - Secure

Minnesota

not listed

Description

Boreal chorus frog is one of the smallest frogs in Minnesota, ¾ to 17 16long at maturity. Females are larger than males.

The body is long and slender. The background color of the upperside is a gradation from a lighter to a darker color; usually tan to brown or reddish-brown, or green to gray. The belly is light brown or cream colored and unmarked. There are three narrow, longitudinal, irregular, stripes of a darker color down the back. The stripes may be more or less broken into a row of spots. Another dark stripe runs from the snout, through the eye, and down the side of the body. The upper lip is white. The male has a dark throat sac.

The legs are short relative to the body. The toe pads are tiny.

Size

Total length: ¾ to 17 16

Voice

Frog and Toad Calls

Similar Species

Spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) has dark markings on the back that form a distinctive X shape.

Habitat

Breeding (March to May): Temporary pools, shallow wetlands, and shallow parts of lakes; always near woodlands.

Summer (May to ??): Grasslands and fields near trees, forest edges, urban areas; all with wetlands nearby.

Ecology

Behavior

Males continue to call in June and July, after the breeding season.

With their short legs these frogs are not very acrobatic and do not climb well.

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Life Cycle

Adults overwinter, partially frozen, beneath rocks or logs. They emerge in late March or early April, often while snow and ice are still present. Males call to attract females. Breeding begins immediately and is usually complete by June 1. The female lays small round clusters of 20 to 300 eggs, eventually laying up to 2,500 eggs, on submerged plants. The eggs hatch in 3 to 14 days, and tadpoles transform into adults in 50 to 70 days, depending on the temperature of the water. They live 3 to 5 years.

Tadpole Food

Algae

Adult Food

Small insects, spiders, and other invertebrates

Distribution

Distribution Map
1/1/2026

Sources

7, 14, 24, 29, 30, 78.

Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu. Accessed 1/1/2026).

USGS National Amphibian Atlas. https://armi.usgs.gov/atlas/. Accessed 1/1/2026).

Occurrence

Common and widespread

Taxonomy

Class

Amphibia (Amphibians)

Order

Anura (Frogs)

Family

Hylidae (Treefrogs and Allies)

Genus

Pseudacris (Chorus Frogs)

Species

This species was formerly classified as (Pseudacris triseriata maculata), a subspecies of western chorus frog.

Subordinate Taxa

 

Synonyms

Chorophilus nigritus septentrionalis

Chorophilus septentrionalis

Hyla canadensis

Hyla triseriata maculata

Hylodes maculatus

Pseudacris nigrita maculata

Pseudacris nigrita septentrionalis

Pseudacris septentrionalis

Pseudacris triseriata maculata

Common Names

Boreal Chorus Frog

Visitor Photos

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Minnesota Seasons Photos

Slideshows

Pseudacris maculata
Todd Pierson

About

Boreal Chorus Frog

Visitor Videos

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Other Videos

Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata)
WisCBMnetwork

About

Published on Apr 30, 2012

No description available.

Prairie Life: Sounds of Spring
Carl Barrentine

About

Published on May 7, 2013

Male Boreal Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris maculata) begin to sing when ambient temperatures finally bump-up beyond the mid-sixties. Photographed at the Turtle River State Park, North Dakota (07 May 2013). Thanks to Laci Prucinsky for making me aware of the species-level taxonomic change for this small anuran!

Calling Boreal Chorus Frogs in Northern Ontario
Petroglyph100

About

Published on May 7, 2012

Sounds of calling Boreal Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris maculata) on Lake Superior.

May 5, 2012. Town of Marathon, Thunder Bay District (48.73987, -86.39231)

Visitor Sightings

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Matt Klocke
7/3/2021

Spring Peeper

Location: Ottertail County, MN

Bill Reynolds
8/6/2014

Boreal Chorus Frog

Location: Pennington Co. MN

These little guys are all over my yard lately.

Minnesota Seasons Sightings