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