The bird known as the roadrunner knows how to fly, but it is rather clumsy in flight and gets tired easily. Thus, roadrunners prefer to dash around on their powerful legs—sometimes reaching speeds of more than 15 miles (24 kilometers) per hour. They were probably named for their habit of darting along desert roads in search of cover or in pursuit of prey.

Where roadrunners live

There are two kinds of roadrunners (also known as chaparral cocks). Both belong to the cuckoo family, Cuculidae. The greater roadrunner lives in Mexico and the southwestern United States. It is the state bird of New Mexico. The lesser roadrunner is found in Mexico and Central America. Roadrunners are usually thought of as desert animals, but they also can be found in grasslands and woodlands.

Physical features

The greater roadrunner is about 22 inches (56 centimeters) long. Its streaked olive-brown and white feathers help the bird blend in with nature when it needs to hide. The roadrunner also has a short crest, bare blue and red skin behind the eyes, and a long tail carried at an upward angle. The lesser roadrunner is about 18 inches (46 centimeters) long.

Behavior

Roadrunners are interesting to watch when they run because their neck and head are outstretched, their shaggy crest is raised, their short wings are outspread, and their long tail jerks up and down. Roadrunners also make amusing noises, including coos, crows, and chuckles.

Roadrunners eat many kinds of reptiles, including lizards and snakes. The bird may use its long bill to pound the prey to death before swallowing it headfirst. Roadrunners also feed on mice, fruit, seeds, and such insects as crickets, grasshoppers, and tarantulas.

Female roadrunners make twig nests low in a cactus or small tree. Though most lay a nest of 3–5 eggs, the number can range from 2–12. The eggs hatch in about 18–20 days.