Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)
Our largest cuckoo, this bird is characterized by a long tail, streaked appearance, frequently erected shaggy crest, and a blue and orange bare patch of skin behind the eyes. It is capable of running very rapidly across the ground (15 mph) and rarely flies. Like all cuckoos, the Roadrunner is a zygodactyl bird (it has 2 toes pointing forward and 2 toes backward).
–Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
Roadrunners are found in Southwest United States and Northern Mexico. They prefer arid semi-arid areas. They do not migrate, maintaining territories in California, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and parts of Utah, Colorado, and Mexico.
They eat mostly animals, anything they can catch including rodents, lizards, scorpions, frogs and birds and eggs. Fruit, seeds and other plant material make up for 10% of their diet.
Size:
- Length: 20.5-21.3 in (52-54 cm)
- Weight: 7.8-19.0 oz (221-538 g)
- Wingspan: 19.3 in (49 cm)
Sounds: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Greater_Roadrunner/sounds
They’re a fun bird, but we’ve learned that when you start feeding them, they’ll return again and again and pester you for more food. Especially during their nesting time.
I would see them at the park by our house in Palm Springs. But we never fed them.
Good that you didn’t feed them. They go cuckoo over food.
Ha!
I hoped to see them when we visited Sedona but apparently it was too far north for them.
It probably was too far north.
Aw, thank you for this, Elizabeth!! I’ve seen one in town while riding my bike, we stopped and had a stare down! I have seen them in Calico Basin too, they are so cute and super fast!
They are ferocious hunters. I’d watch them in Palm Springs at the park by our house catching lizards and birds. They are fast moving!
An iconic bird. Thanks for adding. I’ve never actually seen one
I don’t see them very often, but this guy stopped by recently.
Great photos Elizabeth
Thank you! 😊
You’re welcome ☺️
💕💕
ok. can’t help but think of the cartoon
Yes. Yesterday I spotted two coyotes on my morning walk. I’m living that cartoon!
😂😂😂
😅
Such neat birds!
They are but they can be vicious hunters too. But yes, they need to eat, too.
I’m really enjoying this series. I’m not sure what you have in your neighborhood, but I would love future features on the lesser nighthawk, Say’s phoebe, or great horned owl. 😉
I would love to learn about those birds. We had a great horned owl in our tree for several days, but it was before I was using my Nikon and took photography classes. So they are out of focus photos using my iphone. I will keep my eyes out for the three you suggested. Also the Merlin App that identifies birds by sound.
Great captures! A couple of months ago, while returning from Big Bend Ranch State Park in west Texas, I stopped for lunch in Lajitas. To my surprise, one of those came right to my table. For a change, I didn’t have to pursue one to photograph it. 🙂
Thank you! That would be fun to have a roadrunner come up to your table. I see them occasionally in our backyard, but I have to be quick to get their photo.
You have captured the charming roadrunner beautifully! Look at the clarity of these images. Fabulous. Thank you, I’ve never seen such perfect detail. Hugs, C
Thank you so much! What kind words to hear this morning. 😊
Fab photos…and thank you for adding in the info about roadrunners…I’ll confess I knew very little before reading what you shared here. Thanks, Elizabeth! 😊❤️😊
I’m glad you liked the info along with the photos. It’s a Bird of the Week challenge that a photographer on WP called bushboy from Australia suggested I try. I’m learning more about our birds, too. The person who set of the challenge is in India.
Love, love, love it! Thanks so much! 😉❤️😉
I’m enjoying it too! I’ve taken some photos to use in the future that I like. 💕
Yay!!! ❤️😉❤️
😊
They are a cool looking bird, great photos Elizabeth. I didn’t know they were Cuckoos. I wonder if the lay eggs in other birds nests too.
I didn’t know they were Cuckoos until I worked on this post. I looked up about laying eggs in other birds nests and it says once in a while. Then they let the other birds raise their young. They mostly build their own nests though. I’m glad you liked my photos.
It’s good to find out new things about nature in your “backyard”
PS it’s bushboy, one word, no capitals😁
I am going to edit and correct it! Thanks for letting me know! It will be easier for others to check out your site.
Thank you 😀
Didn’t you say that you have a coyote that sometimes stalks your neighborhood from a distance? Now it makes sense? Notice any ACME trucks making deliveries too? Ha, ha.
Tuesday morning, the day after hubby’s knee replacement, I had two huge coyotes cross the street in front of me, stop and stare at me! I took out my ear buds and played my iphone podcast loudly to scare them away. It was a Bible reflection on how Jesus would take care of our anxiety! I was listening harder than them!
Absolutely stunning! The level of detail in this shot is incredible.
Thank you so much!
Such a handsome bird! I’ve only ever seen but just one, we were traveling mid-west, and while I was sitting in a McDonald’s parking lot waiting for my husband, a roadrunner ran across the lot. I jumped out of the car and got a a photo, lol, and at the time I didn’t even know what kind of bird it was lol!
Isn’t that funny that you didn’t know what type of bird it was. They are striking in their looks. I see them from time to time in my backyard, but they run so quickly I’ve only gotten photos twice.
One of my favorite birds!
Yay! I’m glad I got his picture.
Interesting facts. I was astonished when I saw one near my house last fall. It certainly must have flown here, and it flew away as I approached.
They mostly run, but they can fly too. I’ve seem them fly also.