Hyla avivoca
Description
Bird-voiced tree frogs are found throughout Mississippi. They’re medium-sized tree frogs that are usually gray or green “lichen” colored with a green eye spot below the eye. Thighs are marked with small green spots. Their call is clear and recognizable in late spring and early summer. It could be mistaken for the tweeting of a bird, a clear “weep” “weep” “weep” “weep” in succession.
Identifying Traits
- Green or gray “lichen”-colored body, often smoother looking than Cope’s gray tree frog.
- Green spot below eye
- Green spots on inner thigh (see photo; separates from other tree frogs)

Habitat
Wooded swamps around flowing water (Peterson et al., 2016)
Behavior
Male call sounds almost like a bird. Clear “weep” “weep” “weep” “weep” in quick succession.
Diet
Various invertebrates