Green Tree Frog Hyla cinerea. Dryophytes cinereus. Amphibian. Photograph taken by the author. Copyright © 2025 Now I Wonder. All rights reserved.

Complete Guide To The Green Tree Frog

ByChristine Species Guides

Green Tree Frog

Green Tree Frog Images

How To Identify Green Tree Frogs

  • Green Tree Frogs are small, easily identifiable frogs that grow to 2.5 inches (6.4 cm).
  • The bodies of both males and females are bright green, and have a sharply defined white side stripe that is edged in dark brown. The side stripes start at the frogs’ snouts and end at their groins.
    • Tree Frogs change color in response to environmental conditions, like light intensity, moisture, temperature, and stress , and for camouflage against predators (Tipton et al. 2012).
    • Green Tree Frogs change color less dramatically than some of their cousin species, such as the Squirrel Tree Frog, but can still vary from deep, vibrant moss green to pale, celery green depending on the conditions.
  • They also have:
    • Gold eyes with horizontal, black pupils.
    • A vocal sac under their throats that inflates into a single, large, round balloon.
    • Smooth skin.
    • Long legs with large, adhesive toe pads ideal for gripping vertical surfaces.

Green Tree Frog Notes

  • Green Tree Frogs live in vegetation near permanent bodies of water, rather than in water like true frogs, such as Bullfrogs and Green Frogs.
    • They congregate in large groups, so if you see one Green Tree Frog, look around for more.
    • During the day, they sleep upside down under large leaves or in other moist, shady spaces in a distinctive posture with their forelegs tucked under the chins.
  • Green Tree Frogs breed from March to October in North Carolina (Behler and King 2020).
  • Male Green Tree Frogs climb to perches 1.6 – 6.6 feet (0.5 – 2 m) above standing water, and advertise for mates by sounding a honking, bell-like call, which they repeat around 30 – 60 times a minute (Tipton et al. 2012).
  • Green Tree Frogs eat spiders and insects, especially leafhoppers and grasshoppers.
  • Predators of tadpole Green Tree Frogs include:
    • Predatory fish, like Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) and Pirate Perch (Aphredoderus sayanus).
    • Bullfrog tadpoles.
    • Dragonfly larvae.
    • Giant Water Bugs.
    • Predaceous diving beetles.
  • Predators of adult Green Tree Frogs include:
    • Arboreal mammals, like Raccoons (Procyon lotor) and Virginia Oppossums (Didelphis virginiana).
    • Many snakes, like Rough Green Snakes (Opheodrys aestivus), Eastern Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis), and Corn Snakes (Elaphe guttata),
    • Other frogs
    • Turtles

Green Tree Frog Classification

  • The common name for this species is written “Green Treefrog” or “Green Tree Frog” in scientific literature.
  • This species is sometimes referred to as the “Bell Frog” or “Cowbell Frog” because of the ringing sound of the males’ mating call (Tipton et al. 2012).

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Amphibia

Order

Salientia

Family

Hylidae (Treefrogs or Tree Frogs)

Genus

Dryophytes (formerly Hyla)

Species

D. cinereus (formerly H. cinerea)

Binomial Name

Dryophytes cinereus (formerly Hyla cinerea)

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Christine
Christine is the creator and author of NowIWonder.com, a website dedicated to the animals and plants that share our world, and the science that helps us understand them. Inspired by lifelong exploration and learning, Christine loves to share her knowledge with others who want to connect with wild faces and wild spaces.
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