Roadrunner (Greater)
Image: sdymersk (cc-by-nc)
NameRoadrunner (Greater)
Common NameGreater Roadrunner
Scientific NameGeococcyx californianus
FamilyCuculidae
Wingspan (cm)52
Length (cm)56
Weight (g)400
Plumage DetailsStreaky brown and white plumage covers its body, providing excellent camouflage in its desert habitat. It features a prominent shaggy crest, a long, dark tail often held cocked upwards, and a distinctive bare patch of skin behind the eye that is blue and orange-red.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include a distinctive descending series of coos, often described as 'coo-coo-coo-coo-coo'. It also produces a rapid, clattering sound by snapping its mandibles together.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatsdesert, shrubland, chaparral, arid scrub
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in the southwestern United States and Mexico, extending from California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas south through much of Mexico.
Identifying Featureslong tail, shaggy crest, streaky brown plumage, bare skin patch behind eye (blue/orange-red), long legs, ground-dwelling, fast runner
Description
The Greater Roadrunner is a large, ground-dwelling cuckoo known for its long tail, shaggy crest, and impressive running speed. It primarily inhabits arid and semi-arid regions, where it actively hunts a variety of prey on foot.
