GREATER ROADRUNNER
The greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) is a member of the cuckoo family but it has quite different behaviour from the common cuckoo. It can fly but usually it is a ground-dwelling bird, stalking its prey and making spurts of up to 25 kilometres per hour to catch the prey - mice, snakes, lizards, small birds, insects, etc. It is a large bird (up to 50-60 cm) with a long tail for stability while running, and a heavy beak. It has two toes pointing forwards and two backwards (like all cuckoos) - which enables it to run fast.
The roadrunner is widespread in the southwestern USA and Mexico. It the desert regions it makes nests from twigs in cholla cacti, mesquite and palo verde. This bird usually forms a permanent pair-bond with its mate. The nests typically contain 3-6 white eggs, but not all of the fledglings survive.
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