Greater Roadrunner
NameGreater Roadrunner
Common NameGreater Roadrunner
Scientific NameGeococcyx californianus
FamilyCuculidae
Wingspan (cm)52
Length (cm)56
Weight (g)365
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are streaky brown and black with white spots, giving a mottled appearance. The underparts are white, and it has a shaggy crest of black feathers. Bare skin behind the eye is blue and red, and the long tail is dark with white tips on the outer feathers.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include a descending series of low, guttural coos, often described as 'coo-coo-coo-coo-coo'. They also produce a distinctive bill-clattering sound.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatsdesert, scrubland, grassland, chaparral, open woodland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in the southwestern United States and Mexico, typically in arid and semi-arid regions.
Identifying FeaturesLong, heavy tail often held upright, Shaggy crest on head, Streaky brown and black plumage, Long legs and strong feet for running, Bare blue and red skin patches behind the eye, Terrestrial behavior, rarely flies
Description
The Greater Roadrunner is a large, long-legged, terrestrial cuckoo known for its speed on the ground. It has a shaggy crest, a long tail, and distinctive streaky plumage, often seen running across open, arid landscapes.
