SpeciesFacts

All species › Amphibians › Gray Treefrog

Gray Treefrog

Dryophytes versicolor

Amphibian · family Hylidae · order Anura

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
34 states[3]
Typical length
2 in[4]

The Gray Treefrog (Dryophytes versicolor) is an amphibian in the family Hylidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide, and it is native in 34 US states and territories[2][3].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Gray Treefrog a global rank of G5 (Secure)[2] and a national rank for the United States of N5 (Secure)[6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[7]. The species is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe describes the population as stable and estimates the total adult population at 100,000 to 1,000,000 individuals[8][9].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[6] N5 (Secure)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Least concern
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[8] 100,000 to 1,000,000 individuals

Where Gray Treefrog lives

NatureServe lists the Gray Treefrog as native in 34 US states and territories, including Texas, Georgia, New York, Minnesota and Maine, as well as the District of Columbia[3]. State ranks vary, and the full table is shown on this page[10]. Ohio and Oklahoma are marked SNR, which means not yet ranked[10].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S4MEWisconsin: native, state rank S5WIVermont: native, state rank S5VTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S5NHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank S4NDMinnesota: native, state rank S5MNIllinois: native, state rank S4ILMichigan: native, state rank S5MINew York: native, state rank S5NYMassachusetts: native, state rank S5MAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S2SDIowa: native, state rank S4IAIndiana: native, state rank S4INOhio: native, state rank SNROHPennsylvania: native, state rank S4PANew Jersey: native, state rank S5NJConnecticut: native, state rank S5CTRhode Island: native, state rank S5RICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: native, state rank S5MOKentucky: native, state rank S2KYWest Virginia: native, state rank S5WVVirginia: native, state rank S5VAMaryland: native, state rank S5MDDelaware: native, state rank S4DEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: native, state rank S4KSArkansas: native, state rank S4ARTennessee: native, state rank S5TNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S2NCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S5SCDistrict of Columbia: native, state rank S4DCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S3LAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: native, state rank S5GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S5TXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (34 states)
StateRankMeaning
ArkansasS4Apparently Secure
ConnecticutS5Secure
DelawareS4Apparently Secure
District of ColumbiaS4Apparently Secure
GeorgiaS5Secure
IllinoisS4Apparently Secure
IndianaS4Apparently Secure
IowaS4Apparently Secure
KansasS4Apparently Secure
KentuckyS2Imperiled
LouisianaS3Vulnerable
MaineS4Apparently Secure
MarylandS5Secure
MassachusettsS5Secure
MichiganS5Secure
MinnesotaS5Secure
MissouriS5Secure
New HampshireS5Secure
New JerseyS5Secure
New YorkS5Secure
North CarolinaS2Imperiled
North DakotaS4Apparently Secure
OhioSNRNot Ranked
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
PennsylvaniaS4Apparently Secure
Rhode IslandS5Secure
South CarolinaS5Secure
South DakotaS2Imperiled
TennesseeS5Secure
TexasS5Secure
VermontS5Secure
VirginiaS5Secure
West VirginiaS5Secure
WisconsinS5Secure

Habitat

This frog lives in many kinds of wooded and forested places, and NatureServe also records suburban areas and orchards[11]. It may sit on the ground, but more often it is in shrubs or trees[12]. When resting, it can tuck into tree holes, under bark, in rotten logs or under leaves and roots[12]. For breeding it uses shallow ponds, marshes, puddles, swamps and bogs, either natural or human made, as long as the water has no strong current[12].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[11]

Size and diet

Adults eat small invertebrates, which are animals without a backbone, found on the ground and on plants[13][14]. The tadpoles eat tiny floating bits, plant material and algae[13]. NatureServe records a typical length of 6 cm (2 in)[4]. A female lays up to about 2,000 eggs, spread over several small clusters[15]. The tadpoles hatch in a few days and become frogs within 2 months[15].

Trait Value
Typical length[4] 6 cm (2 in)
Food habits[14] Invertivore
Migration[16] local migrant

When to look for it

The Gray Treefrog is busiest after sundown and through the night, particularly when it is wet[17][18]. It is inactive from fall through early spring, when it hibernates[17][18]. Breeding starts as early as March in the south and usually in May in the north[15]. Some frogs move up to several hundred meters between land habitat and breeding pools[19]. GBIF records peak in May, June and July, which shows when people report the frog and not how many there are[20].

January: 48 recordsJanFebruary: 120 recordsFebMarch: 645 recordsMarApril: 3,761 recordsAprMay: 8,465 recordsMayJune: 7,763 recordsJunJuly: 5,325 recordsJulAugust: 4,441 recordsAugSeptember: 3,044 recordsSepOctober: 964 recordsOctNovember: 178 recordsNovDecember: 59 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[20].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January48
February120
March645
April3,761
May8,465
June7,763
July5,325
August4,441
September3,044
October964
November178
December59

Where to see it

States with the most GBIF observation records: New York, Ohio, Texas, Massachusetts, Michigan[21]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Gray Treefrog endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally[2].
Where does the Gray Treefrog live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 34 US states and territories, from Texas to Maine and Minnesota[3]. It lives in wooded and forested habitats[11][12].
What does the Gray Treefrog eat?
Adults eat small invertebrates found on the ground and on plants[13]. The tadpoles eat suspended matter, algae and plant tissue[13].
How big is a Gray Treefrog?
NatureServe records a typical length of 6 cm (2 in)[4].
When is the best time to see a Gray Treefrog?
It is busiest after sundown and through the night, particularly when it is wet[17]. GBIF records peak in May, June and July[20].

Facts and sources

  1. Gray Treefrog is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Gray Treefrog: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Gray Treefrog as native in 34 US states and territories: Arkansas, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 6 cm (2 in). NatureServe Explorer
  5. Gray Treefrog (Dryophytes versicolor) is a amphibian in the family Hylidae, order Anura. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 100,000 to 1,000,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe notes on trend for Gray Treefrog. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Gray Treefrog (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. Habitat types NatureServe records for Gray Treefrog: Forest - hardwood, Forest - conifer, Forest - mixed, Woodland - hardwood, Woodland - conifer, Woodland - mixed, Suburban/orchard, Temporary pool, Herbaceous wetland, Scrub-shrub wetland, Forested... NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe notes on habitat for Gray Treefrog. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on food for Gray Treefrog. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Gray Treefrog. NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe migration category for Gray Treefrog: local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  17. NatureServe notes on phenology for Gray Treefrog. NatureServe Explorer
  18. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Hibernates/aestivates, Nocturnal, Crepuscular. NatureServe Explorer
  19. NatureServe notes on migration for Gray Treefrog. NatureServe Explorer
  20. GBIF observation records of Gray Treefrog in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  21. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Gray Treefrog: New York, Ohio, Texas, Massachusetts, Michigan. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.