Taxom: The genus Dryophytes was first described by Fitzinger in 1843. Later it was placed into the genus Hyla, the true tree frogs, by Boulenger in 1882. Fouquette and Dubois 2014, treated Dryophytes as a subgenus of Hyla. Dryophytes was finally resurrected as an independent genus by Duellman in 2016. Only geographical, rather than morphological, differences separates Dryophytes from the genus Hyla. Hyla is found only in the Old World, whereas Dryophytes is distributed in the New World. Most members occur in North America

Description: The bird-voiced tree frog is a small species growing to about 2.0 inches long. It is usually a dappled, pale grey or brown on its dorsal surface, but its color changes with the temperature and its level of activity, and may be more or less pale green. It often has a dark brown cross-shaped mark on its back and further dark areas on its limbs. Its belly is grey with flashes of yellow on the underside of its hind legs. The male has a dark throat. This frog is very similar to the larger gray tree frog (Dryophytes versicolor), but that species has an orange flash on its hind legs. Both have a whitish square region just underneath the eyes. The bird-voiced tree frog is easily distinguishable during the spring and summer when it gives its characteristic call.

Habitat: The bird-voiced tree frog is a small species growing to about 2.0 inches long. It is usually a dappled, pale grey or brown on its dorsal surface, but its color changes with the temperature and its level of activity, and may be more or less pale green. It often has a dark brown cross-shaped mark on its back and further dark areas on its limbs. Its belly is grey with flashes of yellow on the underside of its hind legs. The male has a dark throat. This frog is very similar to the larger gray tree frog (Dryophytes versicolor), but that species has an orange flash on its hind legs. Both have a whitish square region just underneath the eyes. The bird-voiced tree frog is easily distinguishable during the spring and summer when it gives its characteristic call.

Range: The subspecies H. a. avivoca is found in the drainage systems of the Gulf coast and in the Mississippi River. This frog is found discontinuously from Aiken, Barnwell and Allendale counties in South Carolina, west across Georgia and Alabama, in the panhandle of Florida and in suitable habitat in Mississippi.

Found in these States: AR | LA | MS

Diet: Bird-voiced treefrogs are insectivores that forage primary at night and on arboreal arthropods. The digestive contents in 14 female bird-voiced treefrogs were inspected and showed that they contained insect species such as elaterid beetles (Elateridae), chrysomelid beetles (Chrysomelidae), homopterans, and moth and butterfly larvae. Based on the type of insect species these frogs are consuming suggest that bird-voiced treefrogs forage while perched in trees

Reproduction: Bird-voiced treefrog mating season begins in late spring (April and May) and continues through much of the summer (June-August). Reproductive maturity of female bird-voiced treefrogs begins anywhere between years 2-4 of life. These frogs have a polygynandrous system of mating, meaning males and females have multiple mating partners. Mating preference is determined by call competition among males to win over females. The call of the males is stimulated by the warming of temperatures in the spring (about 20 degrees Celsius), and males can begin calling up to a month before breeding even begins. Male bird-voiced tree frogs produce a bird-like call while perched in trees above water, while the females remain at ground level. Male competition is displayed by pulsing rhythm sounds and length of call time. IT has been found that males lacking competition had an average of about five calls per minute. When the males were competing against one another, their calls averaged at about six calls per minute and their pulsing call rhythms alternated between each competing male. In areas where there were multiple possible male mates (averaging 2.5 meters apart), the females reacted to the male with the longest call frequency.

When the females detect a distinguishable call, neurons are then stimulated displaying phonotactic behavior to approach the male. After the initial approach, the male will latch onto the dorsal side of the female, and they will then migrate as one down from the perching site to water. The female then begins to deposit her eggs into the water where they will begin development.

Status: According to IUCN Red List, the range of bird-voiced treefrogs include state and federal government lands that are fairly secure. Bird-voiced treefrogs are listed as threatened in the state of Illinois, due to the species existing in isolated pockets. Because these isolated pockets restrict interaction, genes are not shared and long-term reproductive success could be impacted. This treefrog species also inhabits bottomland hardwood swamps and forested floodplains; if these lands are cleared or drained, the frogs are forced out of their habitat, and their chances of survival decreases.

Taxonomy: