Greater Roadrunner (2024)

FAQs

What does the greater roadrunner symbolize? ›

Geococcyx californianus

The roadrunner's distinctive X-shaped footprints are used by Native American and Mexican cultures as sacred symbols to ward off evil. The X shape disguises the direction the bird is heading, and is thought to prevent evil spirits from following.

With speeds upward of 25 miles (40 kilometers) an hour, roadrunners definitely earn their name. They are quick on the ground without losing their ability to fly, and will fly short distances to perch on branches, posts, and rocks.

A bird born to run, the Greater Roadrunner can outrace a human, kill a rattlesnake, and thrive in the harsh landscapes of the Desert Southwest. Roadrunners reach two feet from sturdy bill to white tail tip, with a bushy blue-black crest and mottled plumage that blends well with dusty shrubs.

Both chicks and adults snap the mandibles together to make a sound like castanets. A sharp whine accompanies the clacking, with the female making a higher-pitched, more rapid sound. The clack may help roadrunners locate each other as well as serve as a warning to potential intruders.

noun. road·​run·​ner ˈrōd-ˌrə-nər. : a largely terrestrial bird (Geococcyx californianus) of the cuckoo family that has a long tail and a crest, is a speedy runner, and inhabits arid regions from the southwestern U.S. to Mexico. also : a closely related bird (G. velox) of Mexico and Central America.

The State Bird of New Mexico, the Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) is known by a wide variety of names including Chaparral Bird, el corrre caminos, and el paisano. It is the larger of two ground cuckoos, the other being the Lesser Roadrunner found in Mexico and Central America.

The most famous bird in the southwest, featured in folklore and cartoons, known by its long tail and expressive crest. The Roadrunner walks and runs on the ground, flying only when necessary. It can run 15 miles per hour, probably with much faster spurts when chasing a fast-running lizard or other prey.

"Roadrunners and humans make remarkable friends," Cornett says. "They seem to like being around us." Like some people, they might have motives. "We're big, and as we walk through the desert we scare up a lot of insects for them to eat," Cornett said.

But the true story of this uncommon bird is more remarkable than anything a Warner Bros animator could dream up. Greater roadrunners can survive in the desert, run faster than a human, and beat rattlesnakes to death against rocks. Seldom seen and under-appreciated, they're a bird worth getting to know.

Conservation. Conservationists estimate a total breeding population of 1.1 million greater roadrunners, which means that overall, the species' status is stable. However, the birds do face some threats, particularly in California. Human development has led to widespread loss of habitat for these ground-dwelling birds.

Why is a roadrunner called a roadrunner? ›

Roadrunners get their name because they are often seen rocketing through the scrubland. Long legs whirring and their long tail streaming out behind. In fact, the roadrunner can reach speeds up to 20 mph!

Adult. Distinctive shape, with long neck and legs, and a very long tail. Mostly brown with bold streaks over most of the body, and a lighter buffy belly.

Male and female roadrunners have identical plumage. The only way to sex the bird visually is by size: Females are slightly smaller and have shorter bills.

Description. The roadrunner is about 52–62 cm (20–24 in) long, has a 43–61 cm (17–24 in) wingspan and weighs 221–538 g (7.8–19.0 oz). It stands around 25–30 cm (9+3⁄4–11+3⁄4 in) tall and is the largest cuckoo of the Americas. The upper body is mostly brown with black streaks and sometimes pink spots.

Indigenous lore

The Hopi and other Pueblo tribes believed roadrunners were medicine birds, capable of warding off evil spirits. The X-shaped footprints of roadrunners were seen as sacred symbols, believed to confuse evil spirits by concealing the bird's direction of travel.

It is a ground bird that is about two feet in length. It has speckled brown and black feathers on its back and wings and a lighter throat and chest with dark stripes. It has long legs, a very long tail and yellow eyes. It has a crest on its head and the male has a red and blue patch of skin on the side of its head.

In Mexican Indian and American Indian tribes, such as the Pima, seeing a roadrunner is considered to be very good luck. Although I know that several families of roadrunners inhabit the hills of Peter's Canyon, it's a bit rare to encounter one so up close. I've taken it as a good sign for the year ahead.

Conservation. Conservationists estimate a total breeding population of 1.1 million greater roadrunners, which means that overall, the species' status is stable. However, the birds do face some threats, particularly in California. Human development has led to widespread loss of habitat for these ground-dwelling birds.