Here in Texas, we welcome the change that the spring season brings. While we can all recognize the unmistakable sound of cicadas come summertime, did you know there’s another critter with a similar call? Spring peepers are tiny, nocturnal frogs named for their distinct chirping noise used as a mating call. If you live in the eastern part of the state, keep your ears peeled for the spring peepers in Texas this season!

The spring peeper, formally known as Pseudacris crucifer, is a small chorus frog located throughout the eastern U.S. and Canada. Its nickname comes from the chirping call used by the species to signify the beginning of spring.
Wikipedia/Well Tea
Laying up to 1,000 eggs at a time, peepers remain tadpoles for two to three months before transforming into frogs. The breeding season is between October and June, depending on how warm temperatures are in the given area.
Wikipedia/ShortBus
Spring peepers are divided into two different species: P. c. crucifer and P. c. bartramiana. The latter is located here in Texas, primarily in the Southeast along the Gulf Coast. The frogs can be found in counties north of the colored regions on this map, however, their numbers are much more sparse.
Wikipedia/JCarriker

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So, how does one identify a spring peeper? It's easy: an X-shaped mark on their dorsal makes them impossible to miss.
Wikipedia/JimmyButler
Females are typically lighter-colored, while males are smaller with dark throats. Both genders have large toe pads for climbing, although their preferred habitat is the forest floor of a woodland ecosystem.
To create their distinct sound, spring peepers have a vocal sac that expands and deflates like a balloon. Only males are capable of making the high-pitched sound, and they use it to attract mates.
Flickr/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
You probably won't see too many spring peepers because they're nocturnal, emerging after dark to feed on small invertebrates like beetles, ants, flies, and spiders. Just keep an ear out, however, and you'll know they are close, as the undeniable noise goes on day and night.
Wikipedia/USGS

 

Here’s a short video by YouTuber CatchingCreation featuring the melodious spring peepers sound that you’ll hear in Texas this season. Enjoy!

Do you think you’ll hear when the spring peepers come out in Texas, now that you know what to look (or listen) for? Have you ever seen (or more likely, heard) a spring peeper? If so, where? Let us know, and be sure to keep an eye out for another surefire sign of spring in the Lone Star State: the hummingbirds!

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Do spring peepers come out in Texas?

Sarah M. | March 10, 2022

What are some other animals that come out during the springtime in Texas?

If you're charmed by spring peepers, you'll be thrilled to know that there's another delightful and diminutive, little creature that appears during this season in Texas: the hummingbird! This is the springtime migratory path of the Ruby-throated hummingbird, which passes through Texas later this month into early April. Other species follow similar routes, with minor differences based on their final destinations. How can you be sure these little guys stop by your home? To attract hummingbirds and replenish their nutrient stores, put a feeder outside your home! Not only are they adorable to look at but keeping them well-fed also supports a completed migration journey! Here's a previous article to read all about the spring hummingbird migration in Texas.

What are some fun spring day trips in Texas?

The landscape of the Lone Star State dazzles during springtime, with color as far as the eyes can see! In fact, one of the greatest natural wonders in Texas involves the fields of wildflowers that pop up every year blanketing the state in color and beauty -- and we're not talking about the beloved (and ubiquitous) bluebonnet, either. And while many people are busy being mesmerized by the bluebonnets, there is another flower making its rounds as well. Texas Tulips, a magical tulip field in Texas, is a vibrant, eye-popping wonderland. As the very first tulip field in the state, it’s no wonder people are lining up by droves to visit this never-ending field of flowers each spring!

What is spring like in Texas?

Spring in Texas is one of the most marvelous and beautiful times of the year. Depending on where you are in the state, you might have a different spring experience -- we are a huge state, so folks along the coast definitely experience a different "spring" than those up north! Spring is said to be from March through June and usually lasts only three months. While the rain does come during these months, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy Texas in the springtime. Check out these top places to visit in the Lone Star State in the spring.

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