Why Small Birds Chase Crows                      by Mick Zerr  ©2016

In the beginning, birds were given the choice of many beautiful colors and songs. As the colors and songs were chosen, the crow sat back and watched, but did not select a song, nor a color; not even for his eyes and legs, as he was totally black.  The wise owl noticed this and asked him way he has not selected a color or a song. The black crow told the owl he had selected something better than a nice color; he had selected “clever”, and with it came a one word song, CAW!  The owl had no idea what any of that meant, so he shrugged his wings and flew off, not giving a hoot for the crow’s answer.

     After all the colors and songs had been given out, the birds were discussing who had which colors and which songs, when Cardinal, who had selected beautiful red for his color, had a distressing thought. His bright color would make him visible to snakes and other enemies. Goldfinch joined in, indicating his bright yellow color also would be dangerous, and his song would bring danger to his nest.

The other birds were also listening to them and had the same concerns.  What would they do? It was clear that their desire for bright colors and beautiful songs would be costly.

    Brown Thrasher, with his beautiful rusty brown back and neat spotted breast, noticed the black crow watching them with a smile on his beak. “What are you smiling about, foolish black crow, you did not even pick a color, and your song is one word?” Crow replied, “I picked something better than a color, I picked “clever”, and my one word song helps with it.”  The thrasher had not heard of “clever”, so he asked crow what it was. Crow indicated that it was a way to stay safe and help others stay safe.  As they heard what crow was saying, the other birds came over, still discussing the dangers of their beautiful colors and wonderful songs.

    “Can your “clever” help us with our problem?” said the birds to the crow, in unison.

“Great”, said crow, “that is why I picked “clever” instead of color, so I can help others.”

So the birds lined up, and each told crow of their fears that their colors and songs would endanger them.  “Very well, said crow, here are the clever solutions for each of you.” The birds all lined up to hear what the crow had to say to each of them.

“Yellow and black Goldfinch, you will eat from the yellow and black sunflower, thereby your color will hide you.  Red Cardinal, you will feed only late in the day and early in the morning, so your red color will blend in with everything and keep you safe. Brown Thrasher, you will feed under bushes where your colors will blend in and protect you well.  Nighthawk, you will nest in rocks where your colors will make you almost invisible.  Brown Creeper, you will move up and down tree trunks where your color will look like bark.  Cedar Waxwing, with your spots of many colors, you will eat in fruit trees and blend in with the fruit.”

    Crow went on and on, helping each bird to fit his color to help stay safe.  He told each bird to not sing their beautiful song when they were nesting so their babies would stay safe from enemies who would follow the songs to the nest. The clever Crow told them he would be constantly reminding them to stay safe be calling “Caw” to them.  (It is said the ancient humans' word CAUtion came from this.)

     So that is why the crow is black, caws wnen danger arises, is the most clever of all birds, and if you see small birds chasing crows in the sky, they are actually begging the crows for clever advice on how to stay safe. It is said, that if you look closely, you will see a smile on the happy Crow’s beak.