Common Toad
Bufo bufo
Also known as: European Toad, Common European Toad, Giant Toad, Granulated Toad
About This Species
Widespread across mainland Europe in woodland, hedgerows and gardens, spending most of the year on land and only gathering at ponds to breed in early spring, often migrating in large numbers on mild, wet nights. Look for its warty, dry skin and horizontal pupil, distinguishing it from frogs, and listen for the male's quiet, repetitive chirping call at breeding ponds after dark. Torchlit walks around still or slow-moving water in March and April are the most reliable way to see breeding aggregations.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Handle it only if necessary, and always with wet hands or gloves, since it can absorb substances through its skin and is vulnerable to drying out and stress from handling.
- Roads crossing migration routes are the main hazard, so drive slowly and watch for toad patrols in early spring rather than needing any particular approach caution with individual animals.
- Legal protection varies by country across its European range, from general habitat protections to specific take restrictions, so check local rules before assisting or moving animals.
Seasonal Activity
604,669 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Amphibia
- Order
- Anura
- Family
- Bufonidae
Photo
(c) Karol Tabarelli de Fatis, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Karol Tabarelli de Fatis
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.