09.03.2021 Frog Friday Frog Fun

When I visited MacLeod Field on this past Sunday I had insects on the mind and as you saw had an enjoyable time chasing the Silver-bordered Fritillary. But prior to that I was chasing a small moth when I saw the leaves move to my left and upon looking closely noticed this near the ground.

Although green, this is a Gray Treefrog-Dryophytes versicolor formerly Hyla versicolor.  It has several other common names such as  eastern gray treefrog, northern gray treefrog, common gray treefrog, or tetraploid gray treefrog.  The last name is used to differentiate it from Cope’s Gray Treefrog which is almost identical in every way but a more southern species. Only their genes tell them apart but since we are in the north it is more than likely not Cope’s.

As with the fritillary, I had to chase this little frog around a bit but that afforded some other more intimate views.

I wanted a front portrait and carefully sidled around to this angle.

So patient and accommodating.  Most of the small frogs I encounter are quite jumpy and usually disappear after a moment or two.  But this one stayed where I could make more images and I got this final look which, if you click and look closely, has a familiar figure in his eye.

They are called gray treefrogs because the mature frog is no longer green, becoming gray and earning the moniker.

This was the highlight, even more than the butterfly, of my Sunday shoot and it was hard to not share until today. Frog Monday just doesn’t have the same ring to it.  🙂