Fowler's Toad

How to identify

• Brown or gray with dark spots, each containing three or more warts — vs. one or two in American toad
• Cranial crests that contact but are not fused to the parotoid glands
• Belly mostly white with a single dark spot
• Nasal, buzzy call rather than a trill

About this species

Virginia's second toad species, Fowler's toad is very similar to the American toad and the two often overlap in range. The most reliable distinction is the call — Fowler's toad produces a nasal, sheep-like bleat rather than the American toad's long musical trill. Fowler's toads tend to prefer sandier, more open habitats and breed later in spring.

Often confused with

Did you know

"Fowler's toads and American toads occasionally hybridize where their ranges overlap, producing individuals with intermediate characteristics that can be very difficult to identify."

Sightings & citizen science

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