In order to see this content you need to have both enabled and installed. Visit for full instructions
Common toad
Watch this clip from the Â鶹Éç Wales Nature blog to find out if you can tell the difference between a toad and a frog.
Generally, common toads (Bufo bufo) are widespread in mainland Britain.
They inhabit damp areas of deciduous woodland, scrub, gardens, parks and fields. During the breeding season they live in ponds, lakes, ditches and slow-moving rivers.
Common toads have a squat body, with short toes, webbed hind feet and a rounded snout. Their eyes are orange with black horizontal pupils. They are covered in raised warts and skin colour varies depending on the time of year, area, sex and age.
Common toads hibernate in October, typically under deep leaf litter, logs, timber piles, or in burrows and drainpipes and tend to live away from water except during the breeding season. They emerge from hibernation around late March, migrating to their respective breeding sites.
Only male common toads croak - this is a useful way of distinguishing males from females. Males will 'squeak' if picked up.
Larger males have deeper croaks then smaller individuals. This difference in pitch enables toads to gauge their chances of success before a fight thereby avoiding battles they are likely to lose.
Bookmark this page:
See Also
Elsewhere on the Â鶹Éç
Elsewhere on the web
Try one of the walks from Derek's latest walking series on Â鶹Éç One Wales.
Wildlife map of Wales
Explore Wales
Zoom in and discover wildlife in your area with our interactive map.