Why Crows Only Say “Caw! Caw!”

 Before an elder, do not speak loudly.

But if your voice is too low and hard to hear,

you are being improper.

A very long time ago, all birds were silent. They didn’t know why this was so, just that it had always been that way. They were very sad about this because all the other animals could talk. Only the birds were mute.

Then one day, an amazing bird appeared. He looked like two birds joined together! But that was not what really amazed the other birds. As they all clustered around to look on in awe, he began to talk! And what he said astounded them even more.

He told them he had come at the order of the Sound Giver. It was the Sound Giver’s job to decide what would be the best sound for each animal. Once decided this sound would belong to that animal and no other. Much to the distress of the Sound Giver, she just learned she had never given the birds their sounds! She was coming now to correct her terrible mistake.

With that the Sound Giver came into the clearing. She was a little girl! She apologized to all the birds for her terrible oversight. She told them she would do something she had never done before to make up for their being silent so long. If they did not like the sound she gave them, they were allowed to exchange it.

As the Sound Giver looked around, she saw a little finch hopping up and down with excitement. The Sound Giver smiled and the finch started chirping! All the birds were thrilled and quickly lined up to receive their very own sounds.

The Sound Giver began to carefully work her way through the line. Some birds liked the sound she gave them while others asked for another. She gave many birds a few sounds, others she taught to sing. She patiently worked with each one until it was happy.

Then it was time for the crow. He marched up to the Sound Giver and glared at her. The Sound Giver gave him a single “Caw” to see how it sounded. The crow repeated it loudly. Then more loudly. Then even more loudly! The Sound Giver winced, put her hands over her ears, and asked the crow to please speak more softly. But the noisy bird crowed even louder and demanded he be given more sounds. He was so loud that the Sound Giver shook her head and said “No.”

The crow said “Caw, caw!” as if demanding “Why not?”

The Sound Giver calmly looked the crow in the eye. “You are loud and rude. Because of this I will only give you one sound. Other birds will be welcome and their calls will delight all those who hear them. But you will not be welcome. People will cringe at your call and shoo you away because you are so loud.”

And this is why even today, the only sound a crow can make is “Caw! Caw!”