Greater Roadrunner

The Greater Roadrunner is a long-legged member of the cuckoo family that lives in Mexico and the Southwest U.S. They do well in the desert regions of the Southwest. These birds can run and walk on the ground; they only fly when absolutely necessary. When pursuing prey, it may run up to 15 miles per hour, similar to a lizard that runs quickly. On occasion, they may outpace people or even kill rattlesnakes. Insects, spiders (including black widows), tarantulas, centipedes, scorpions, mice, small birds, including hummingbirds, and especially lizards and small snakes are among the small animals that it primarily eats.

Roadrunners have white tail tips that extend up to two feet from their bill. They have speckled plumage and a bushy blue-black crown. They blend quite well with the sand dunes thanks to their colors. They release a viscous, salty fluid through a particular gland located in front of each eye. They eliminate waste in this way so that little water is released from their body.