When it comes to frog noises, most people’s knowledge basically begins and ends with the word “ribbit.” Should anyone want to change that sad reality, Smithsonian Folkways is here to help. The 75-year ...

Across the animal kingdom, sound is more than communication—it's a signal of survival and success. From birds and primates to ...

Male túngara frogs croak from shallow puddles to attract mates. But new research finds that their love songs have a dark side: They create ripples that attract the attention of frog-eating bats. And ...

The American toad is one of the most well-known toad species throughout North America. Its notable warts and big, round eyes differentiate it from other species, but its call is also unique. You might ...

The croaking of frogs and toads is as much a part of spring as birdsong and gardening. When these creatures head to ponds and pools in search of mates, it’s hard to miss–though not everyone ...

Everyone that has ever heard a frog croak associates the sound with the word “Ribbit.” In reality, the natural noise that comes from a frog or toad is really more like a chirp. Thanks to the magic of ...

Male frogs often force females to mate with them, but in one species, a croak from the female seems to persuade males to leave her alone. The sound may be an “honest” signal that she isn’t fertile and ...

Climate change has become the secret wingman to male frogs, as experts discover a noticeable shift in their mating calls. Around 41 per cent of amphibian species are threatened with extinction, ...

These tiny frogs have an enormous voice for their size, and the recent warm evenings have been filled with their lovely chorus.

From today’s vantage point, some of Folkways’ early, non-musical titles may seem like novelties, and perhaps many of them were at the time. But they also radiate an unmistakable spirit of possibility.