1. In two-choice phonotaxis experiments female painted reed frogs (Hyp
erolius marmoratus) preferentially chose the stimulus with the greater
sound pressure level(SPL) at source when all other call parameters we
re identical. 2. However, this preference was not apparent when we inc
reased the distance of the louder stimulus from the female such that t
he SPL of the two stimuli at the release point was equivalent. This su
ggests that females simply move up sound gradients ('passive attractio
n'). 3. Female choice of the loudest stimulus was also affected by the
number of speakers. 4. There were significantly fewer responses to th
e loudest speaker in some four-choice compared to matched two-choice p
honotaxis experiments. 5. Together these experimental results may part
ially account for the absence of a large male mating advantage in the
field.