# Spring Peeper (*Pseudacris crucifer*)

> The spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) is a tiny chorus frog whose bell-like peep signals eastern North American spring. Adults weigh about 5 g, breed in woodland ponds, and are listed Least Concern.

- **Category:** Amphibian
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Eastern North America woodlands.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/spring-peeper/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Amphibia
- **Order:** Anura
- **Family:** Hylidae
- **Genus:** Pseudacris

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Pseudacris crucifer |
| Diet | Insectivore |
| Habitat | Woodland ponds and wetlands |
| Lifespan | 3–4 years |
| Weight | 0.004–0.006 kg |
| Top speed | up to 3 km/h |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## X marks the spring chorus

A dark X on the back identifies this fingernail-sized frog. Males inflate vocal sacs to produce piercing peeps that chorus across wet woods in March and April.

## Ants, spiders, and pond edges

Tiny insects and spiders are taken near forest floor and shrub layer. Breeding concentrates in temporary and permanent woodland pools.

## Eastern US and Canada woodlands

Deciduous forest from the Maritimes and Great Lakes to the Gulf states. Peepers often call from shrubs above pools rather than sitting in water.

## Wetland buffers matter

Least Concern and widespread. Filling of vernal pools and suburban drainage reduces breeding sites, but huge populations persist in forested regions.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why are they called spring peepers?

Males peep loudly in early spring when ice still edges woodland pools.

### How do you identify a spring peeper?

Look for a tan frog with a dark X on the back and loud calls from wetland shrubs.

### Are spring peepers tree frogs?

Yes — they are small hylid tree frogs that climb though they breed in ponds.

### How loud is a spring peeper?

Individual peeps reach surprising volume for such a tiny frog; choruses carry across wet woods.

### Where do spring peepers lay eggs?

In woodland ponds and swamps, attaching eggs to submerged vegetation.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/spring-peeper/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.