calling male wood frog, Rana sylvatica
group of calling wood frogs, Rana sylvatica

Wood frogs (Rana sylvatica) gather together in large leks to mate. In these leks, males are much more common than females, typically outnumbering females by at least two to one. The males arrive first, and begin calling and wrestling with each other. As female wood frogs arrive at the ponds, they swim toward the center of the lek. As the females enter the leks, multiple males will grab them, clinging to each female until one male wins out. The females will typically each lay a single egg clutch consisting of about 400-1,200 eggs. The photos above show a group of calling male wood frogs photographed during the breeding season in Livingston Co., MI. Use the player below to listen to the sound of a group of calling wood frogs. The wood frog call sounds a little bit like a clucking chicken. The high pitched sound in the background is from a group of calling spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer).

  

All text and photographs © Michael F. Benard
For information on using this photograph, contact me via email at:
mfbenard -{at}- gmail dot com

Frog Call Recordings

Natural History Photos

External Links

Amphibia Web: Wood frogs