Gray Treefrog
Dryophytes versicolor — Hylidae
1.25–2 inches
How to identify
- Mottled gray, green, or brown — highly variable and can change color
- Bright orange or yellow on inner thighs, visible when jumping
- Large, sticky toe pads
- White spot below each eye
- Rough, warty-textured skin
About this species
A master of camouflage, the gray treefrog is a common but rarely seen resident of Virginia's forests and suburban trees. Their mottled gray-green skin matches tree bark so precisely that they are nearly invisible when resting on a branch. The bright orange or yellow flash on the inner thighs, visible when jumping, is a key identification feature. Two species of gray treefrog occur in Virginia and are visually identical — they can only be reliably separated by call.
Often confused with
Did you know
"Gray treefrogs can change their color from gray to green in minutes depending on temperature, light, and humidity — allowing them to match a wide range of bark and leaf surfaces."
Sightings & citizen science
Help document Virginia wildlife by logging your sightings on iNaturalist. Every observation builds the conservation data that researchers and rehabbers depend on.
View Gray Treefrog observations on iNaturalist ↗If you've found an injured or displaced Gray Treefrog in Virginia, our triage guide walks you through what to do.