Color Variations and Diversity in Pacific Tree Frogs (Pseudacris regilla)


Pacific Tree Frogs are common amphibians in Western Washington state, and I love the sound of their mating calls in the spring. Usually, I'm lucky to spot a single frog during the summer when they try to stay in cool, damp areas, but I had a real treat on yesterday's trip to the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. We've been having extraordinarly warm weather for late September, and I spotted hundreds of Tree Frogs right near the visitor center observation platform. Many of them were actually sunbathing, as if they knew that the sun was about to vanish for a few months.

It was a great opportunity to document the incredible color and pattern variation in these little frogs.

First, we have the mostly-green variation.

Green variation of Pacific Tree Frog

Green variation of Pacific Tree Frog

Green Pacific Tree Frog

And then we get some with just hints of green.

Hint of green on Pacific Tree Frog

Here's a fun image of two different variations of color.

Green and Gray Pacific Tree Frog

The frogs yesterday really didn't seem to be that bothered by people being near, and I was able to get some very close shots.

Pacific Tree Frog close-up

I'd never really seen Pacific Tree Frogs in bright light, but many of them were enjoying their sunbath.

Sunbathing Pacific Tree Frog

Many of the frogs were perched right on the fence. This one is showing off its beautiful coppery coloration.

Another sunbathing Pacific Tree Frog with beautiful copper and green coloration.

Copper and Green Pacific Tree Frog

For some reason, the hundreds of frogs I saw were mostly perched on invasive Himalayan Blackberry leaves.

Here's a nice example of a gray variation.

Gray variation of Pacific Tree Frog

Another with golden-coppery colors.

A mostly gray frog.

Pacific Tree Frog

I was able to get some great close-up shots.