What is "spring peeper"

n. (taxlink Pseudacris crucifer species noshow=1), a small chorus frog of North America.

n. small brown tree toad having a shrill call heard near wetlands of eastern United States and Canada in early spring [syn: Hyla crucifer]

The spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) is a small chorus frog widespread throughout the eastern United States and Canada. They are so called because of their chirping call that marks the beginning of spring. There are two subspecies:

• The northern, P. c. crucifer, found all over the eastern USA and eastern Canada.
• The southern, P. c. bartramiana. The southern is distinguished by a strong dark marking on its belly. P. c. bartramiana is found along the southern Gulf Coast from southeastern Texas to northern Florida and southern Georgia.