The Arizona tree frog (Hyla wrightorum) might be small, but don’t let its size fool you — this little frog has a surprisingly loud call that can fill the night air during monsoon season. Often hidden in high-elevation forests across the Southwest, it’s actually the state amphibian of Arizona, even though spotting one in the wild takes a bit of luck. With its beautiful green color and acrobatic tree-climbing skills, the Arizona tree frog is a charming and important part of the region’s ecosystems.
Size & Physical Appearance
Arizona tree frogs are small — usually just 1 to 2 inches long. They’re typically a bright to olive green, sometimes leaning toward brown, depending on their surroundings. Their skin is smooth and moist, and a key feature is the dark stripe running from their nose through the eye and down to their shoulder.
Some individuals may have light spots or flecks, especially on their back or legs. Their belly tends to be pale or creamy white. Males and females look pretty similar, though males often have a dark throat patch and slightly swollen thumbs during the breeding season, which they use when grabbing females in amplexus (that’s the amphibian version of a frog hug during mating).
Habitat and Range
Despite the name, Arizona tree frogs are most commonly found not in the dry deserts but in the mountain forests of Arizona and western New Mexico. They live at elevations between 4,000 and 8,000 feet, where there are more pine, oak, and fir trees — and more water.
They tend to hang out in moist meadows, ponds, and streamside areas during the summer breeding season. These frogs spend a lot of time in trees and shrubs but will come down to ground level near water sources, especially after summer rains.
Their range is restricted mostly to central and eastern Arizona (like the Mogollon Rim region) and parts of western New Mexico. While they’re called “Arizona” tree frogs, they actually overlap with regions once confused with a similar frog called the mountain tree frog — more on that below.
Diet
Like most small frogs, the Arizona tree frog eats a variety of small invertebrates — think beetles, flies, spiders, ants, and other tiny bugs. They’re nocturnal and usually hunt at night, using their sticky tongues to catch prey.
An interesting note: they get a lot of their moisture from the environment and their food, so their diet helps them stay hydrated in dry conditions.
Lifespan
In the wild, Arizona tree frogs typically live around 2 to 5 years, although some may live a bit longer if conditions are stable. In captivity (though rarely kept), their lifespan might extend to around 6 years with proper care.
Identification Tips
These frogs can be confused with a few other small green frogs in the Southwest, especially the mountain tree frog (Dryophytes eximius), which used to be considered the same species. But here’s how you can tell them apart:
- Stripe pattern: Arizona tree frogs have a distinct dark stripe through the eye that usually ends at the shoulder, and they often lack the strong crossbands on legs that some tree frogs have.
- Habitat: If you see a tree frog in high-elevation pine or oak forests in Arizona, chances are good it’s a Hyla wrightorum.
- Call: Their mating call is a rapid, nasal chuckle — sort of like a duck’s quack mixed with a chuckle. Males often call from hidden spots near temporary ponds after heavy summer rains.
Also, remember that Hyla wrightorum is smaller and more delicate-looking than other frogs that may look similar. Knowing when and where you’re seeing the frog helps a lot with ID.
Fun Fact
Even though it’s the state amphibian of Arizona, the Arizona tree frog was officially described under its current scientific name (Hyla wrightorum) only fairly recently. For years, it was lumped in with another species — so Arizona was honoring the wrong frog for a while! That mix-up has since been corrected, but it’s a fun reminder of how science is always updating our understanding of nature.
Keep an Eye (and an Ear) Out
Hearing one of these little frogs calling in the forest after a summer monsoon is a real treat. They’re not always easy to find, but with a patient ear and good timing, you just might spot one peeking out from a leafy perch or hopping near a rain-fed pool.
If you’re hiking in Arizona’s high country in late summer, keep your ears open at night. That cheerful chuckle in the distance? Might just be the tiny Arizona tree frog adding its voice to the monsoon chorus.