Lesser Roadrunner
NameLesser Roadrunner
Common NameLesser Roadrunner
Scientific NameGeococcyx velox
FamilyCuculidae
Wingspan (cm)44.5
Length (cm)48.5
Weight (g)205
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are streaky brown and black with white streaks, creating a mottled appearance. It has a distinctive shaggy crest, a long dark tail often held cocked, and bare blue skin behind the eye. Underparts are buffy white, becoming more buff on the flanks.
Vocalization / CallProduces a series of low, cooing notes, often descending in pitch, and a rapid, dry rattling sound.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatsdesert, grassland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in Central America and parts of Mexico, from western Mexico south through Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
Identifying Featureslong, dark, cocked tail, shaggy crest, streaky brown and black plumage, bare blue skin behind the eye, terrestrial habits
Description
The Lesser Roadrunner is a medium-sized terrestrial cuckoo known for its swift running ability. It inhabits arid and semi-arid regions, primarily foraging on the ground for small animals.
