North America is home to over 100 species of frogs and toads, many of which favor freshwater habitats like your very own backyard pond. Keep reading to see how many of the following ten common frog species you can identify in your frog pond.
Bullfrogs (Lithobates spp.)
Bullfrogs are the most populous genus of aquatic frogs in North America. When you order our live tadpoles, you will receive a mix of American Bullfrogs, Green frogs, and Leopard frogs. Common bullfrog species include the following:
American Bullfrog (L. catesbeianus)
Characteristics: American bullfrogs are the largest native frog species in the US, measuring up to eight inches long and weighing nearly two pounds. They feature drab, olive-green coloring on their backs and pale-yellow bellies.
Range: American bullfrogs are native to the United States and Canada, east of the Mississippi River. They have been introduced to the western US, the Pacific Islands, the Caribbean, Asia, and Europe for breeding and pest control purposes. In some areas, they are now considered an invasive species, and efforts are underway to control their populations.
Green Frog (L. clamitans)
Characteristics: Green frogs are medium-sized true frogs that grow up to four inches long and weigh from one to three ounces. They are so-named for their bright green heads, contrasting with their mottled grey or brown bodies.
Range: These frogs are native to the eastern half of North America, from Florida up to Canada. The two subspecies are Bronze frogs, found in the south from east Texas to Florida, and Northern Green frogs extending northwards into Maine and SE Canada.
Mink Frog (L. septentrionalis)
Characteristics: Mink frogs feature green and brown blotches across their backs with pale yellow bellies. Males exhibit bright yellow throats and green lips. Their name comes from their distinct scent, which resembles the smell of mink.
Range: Mink frogs are a cold-hardy species located in Canada and parts of the northern United States, including Michigan, Maine, Vermont, and New York.
Northern Leopard Frog (L. pipiens)
Characteristics: The color variations of Northern Leopard frogs include green morphs, brown morphs, and bunsi morphs. The green morph variation features bright green skin with striking brown spots. Brown morphs show less color contrast but similar spotted patterning. Bunsi variations lack the signature spots on their backs but typically retain these markings on their legs. Northern Leopard frogs can also be blue or albino, but these colorings are rare.
Range: The Northern Leopard frog’s geographic range spans from northeastern Canada to the mountainous areas of Arizona.
Pickerel Frog (L. palustris)
Characteristics: Pickerel frogs are brown or grey with two columns of dark, rectangular spots on their backs.
Range: Pickerel frogs inhabit most of the United States east of the Mississippi River.
Wood Frog (L. sylvaticus)
Characteristics: These small frogs are just over two inches long and feature dark eye masks and tan or ruddy brown bodies.
Range: Wood frogs are native to the Boreal forests of North America, from western Alaska through northern Georgia.
Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris spp.)
Chorus frogs are a genus of tiny North American frogs known for their melodious and drawn-out calls. Although they are technically tree frogs, most chorus frogs live on the forest floor near freshwater pools.
California Tree Frog (P. cadaverine)
Characteristics: These well-camouflaged frogs resemble mossy stones, with pale green skin dotted with dark green warts and splotches. California tree frogs are less than two inches long when fully grown.
Range: California tree frogs inhabit riparian wetlands from Baja California, Mexico to Southern California.
Spring Peeper (P. crucifer)
Characteristics: Spring Peepers are small (less than 1.5 inches long) brown frogs with prominent dark cross markings on their backs.
Range: Spring Peepers are found in all but the most extreme latitudes of North America east of the Mississippi River.
Western Chorus Frog (P. triseriata)
Characteristics: Western Chorus frogs are small, grey, and feature dark dorsal stripes along their backs.
Range: These frogs have a somewhat restricted habitat spanning Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and parts of New York, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Illinois.
Cricket Frogs (Acris spp.)
Cricket frogs are named after their calls, which resemble the chirping of crickets. These small North American frogs reside near permanent bodies of well-oxygenated water featuring dense aquatic vegetation.
Blanchard’s Cricket Frog (A. blanchardi)
Characteristics: Blanchard’s Cricket frogs are small, dark, and warty. The species can be identified by a triangular mark located between the eyes.
Range: These frogs can be found in much of the Midwest, although their range is shrinking. They are classified as threatened or endangered and should not be disturbed.
Northern Cricket Frog (A. crepitans)
Characteristics: Northern Cricket frogs have dull green, brown, or grey coloration with irregular blotches. Some specimens feature a brown or orange stripe running down their backs.
Range: These frogs have a wide geographic range and can be found from northern Florida through South Dakota.
Learn More About Freshwater Frog Pond Visitors
Find out the best way to care for wild frogs living in your pond from the experts at The Pond Guy. Contact us online or call 866-POND-HELP for advice.
Read more about pond frogs in these related guides:
Will Last Year's Tadpoles Become Frogs This Spring?
Last Updated: March 27, 2025