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The Pacific Treefrog (a.k.a. Pacific Chorus Frog) is one of two species of tree frogs found in British Columbia. It is a distinctive, small species of frog, to 5 cm in length, with a black mask that extends across the eye to the shoulder, and relatively long legs.. Body colour is most commonly green, but maybe be brown/bronze in colour, with pale cream below. Dark patches or stripes are often present on the back. Males have a dark patch of skin on their throat. Toes have round pads (disks) used for climbing and very little webbing. The Boreal Chorus Frog, the second species of tree frog in the province, can be separated from the Pacific Tree Frog by range (it is only found in a small area in northeastern BC), smaller toe pads, the presence of an eyestripe which continues across the body, and three stripes on the back. The Wood Frog is also a similar looking species, also with a black mask on its face, but it lacks the round pads on the toes and has ridges that run from the eye down the back (dorsolateral ridges). The BC Frogwatch Program (2010) says: “The Pacific Treefrog can change colour rapidly from light to dark, possibly in response to changes in temperature and humidity “. Shaub and Larsen (1978) report a shift in the dominant colour of males from one year to the next (non-green to green).

The species has a repertoire of calls, and can be heard calling year-round (not just breeding season). Their calls are often used as Hollywood movie background frog calls.