Greater Roadrunner

By Charlie • January 10, 2007 • No comments yet

Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus
Panoche Valley, California. 10 January 2007

Forever immortalised as the speedy, tongue-poking, would-be prey of Wile E Coyote in the Warner Bros “Road Runner” cartoons, the Greater Roadrunner is a ground-cuckoo well suited to its desert environment. Its carnivorous habits offer it a large supply of very moist food and it is able to reabsorb water from its feces before excretion. Well known for being one of the few animals alive quick enough to prey on snakes, Roadrunners move so fast that they are able to snatch a humming bird or dragonfly from midair.

There are two species of Roadrunners, the Greater and the Lesser Roadrunner. G. velox a slightly smaller, buffier and less streaky bird of Mexico and Central America, which grows to a length of about 18 inches (compared with 20-24 inches for the Greater).

greater roadrunner

All photos copyright Charlie Moores

Explore These Related Posts

No Related Post

...Or These Blasts From The Past

About the Author

Charlie

Charlie works for an airline and has birded all over the world for twenty years. He wants to be a writer, and thinks no-one would believe his life could be so charmed if he didn't take photos of as many of the birds he sees as possible. Blogging with 10,000 Birds fits his aims, needs, and insecurities perfectly. Really - do birders get much more fortunate than this?

Share Your Thoughts

Asides

First I and the Bird of 2010 is Coming…

Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the first IATB of the new year. Send your link and summaries to me or Andrew (cooee AT listeningearth.com.au) of Listening Earth Blog by today’s end.

Social Media workshop

Guunar Engblom is rapidly becoming birding’s most enthusiastic social media networker, using Twitter and Facebook to promote his excellent blog. To be honest we here at 10,000 Birds aren’t quite convinced of the benefits, but perhaps the best way for mild sceptics to find out for sure would be to join Gunnar’s FREE 31 Day Social Media Workshop. The details do sound interesting, Gunnar is one heck of an enthusiast, and clicking the link doesn’t commit you to anything…

Lolcats antidote

Easily offended? Think ‘cute’ pics of ‘cute’ cats saying ‘cute’ things in baby language is really - er, ‘cute’? Well most definitely DON’T read this sublime post on the very naughty Reservoir Cats because you’ll probably be unhappy and want to complain to someone who won’t listen. Everyone else - ENJOY!

The Birder’s Report becomes a Species Champion

Excellent news from Larry Jordan, the force behind The Birder’s Report: he’s joined BirdLife’s ‘Preventing Extinctions Programme’ as a Species Champion. The PEP focusses on saving the 192 most threatened birds on the planet, and with supporters with the conservation creds of someone like Larry perhaps it will become far better known in North America than currently. Let’s hope so - and who’ll be next to join I wonder?