The roadrunners of the genus Geococcyx, are a kind of birds that can sprint or sometimes fly furry-ously!Roadrunners are also called chaparral cocks or chaparral birds, who are the two different species of the fast-running bird ‘ground cuckoo’ family. Roadrunners are of two types, the lesser roadrunner (Geococcyx velox) and the greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus).Both birds are in the Cuculidae family, which includes approximately 150 different bird species such as cuckoos, koels. Greater roadrunners are found in North America, Arizona, and Mexico or we can say in Central American Countries and are basically small desert birds. The length of roadrunner ranges from 22 - 24 in (56 to 61 cm). The weight of these birds is 8–15 oz (226.8-425.2 g).Roadrunners are a species of opportunistic omnivores. They normally prefer to eat insects such as beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, caterpillars, and small reptiles such as snakes, lizards, and rattlesnakes, rodents, and other small mammals like scorpions, tarantulas, snails, small birds, and their eggs, centipedes in its diet. The roadrunner, when hunting, usually runs after its prey as an undercover. Roadrunner is a family species and nest only in spring when there is food and lives in pairs and holds their territory all year round. Roadrunner’s breeding and nesting seasons are spring and the parents make nests in the months of August and September and lay between two to eight eggs. Greater roadrunner lays a clutch of two to four eggs.You can also read about how fast do hummingbirds fly and can ducks fly.Is the roadrunner a real bird?Roadrunners are small birds usually found in the desert and are born to run. The greater roadrunner has the ability to kill a rattlesnake and live in the unpleasant landscapes of the desert.Roadrunners are of two feet, from their bill to whitetail, and also have a bushy blue-black crest. They have a plumage that can blend well with dusty shrubs while running. Roadrunners are a species found in Central America and Mexico and are birds that can fly sometimes. But roadrunners prefer to run than fly because of their legs which are very strong and their feet which can catch prey strongly. We can say a roadrunner is not a real bird of the cuckoo family. They are not really aggressive towards humans but can be feisty as they live in deserts.Can roadrunners fly?The greater roadrunner, sometimes known as the smaller roadrunner, is a bird species that can fly but prefers to sprint and stroll. Only when they are assaulted by predators do roadrunner birds fly. Their tail is broad and has white tips at the end on the three tail feathers.Greater roadrunners are a desert species and have the ability to regulate the body temperature by going into torpor. During the day they expose their skin to the sun. The build of the roadrunner is not suitable for flying specifically and so they are not adept at flying. The maximum a roadrunner can fly is for one minute or in an emergency, when it is attacked by predators. They prefer to eat small insects for their diet. The nest which they make is made of twigs, feathers, grass.Why do roadrunners not fly?These North American birds do fly but their bodies are not adept to fly. The bird has wings that are short and rounded, unlike other birds. They like to prey on the ground and also have a small head.But that is not the only reason for them not to fly. The bird actually flies when they need to, like under attack from predators. They only flutter a short fly to perch on a bush or a tree branch because their wings are not made to fly long distances and mostly these birds can fly for a minute and are called ‘Roadflyers’ because of their strong legs and feet which are naturally built for running quickly with two toes facing forward and two toes facing backward. Roadrunners can run up to 17 mph (27.35 kph) or more.How fast are roadrunners?These predator birds of Arizona have a good range of speed which can reach up to 26 mph (41.84 kph). But it’s not enough because another flight bird called wile e coyote, which attains a maximum speed of 43 mph (69.2 kph) which is more than the roadrunner.They can very easily catch greater roadrunners in the desert. Wile E Coyotes can snoop out roadrunners but as roadrunners have the ability to hit the ground, they don’t run in a straight line rather sprints in a Z shape and instead of just running on a road! Roadrunner, if find no other way than to fly, then at the last moment they perch on a bush or a tree branch. Coyotes are one of the main threats to roadrunners as they don’t have a problem catching them. The greater roadrunner leaves a trail of X-mark behind.Do roadrunners migrate?Roadrunners, even in the winter season, do not migrate to other places. They are highly territorial just like the Greater Roadrunners. Roadrunners warm themselves by taking shelter in the dense vegetation or stay among many rocks which protect from cold winds. When a hunter tries to hunt these birds, they start to walk very rapidly to chase the prey.These territorial birds mostly like to eat small animals like insects, snakes, lizards, and rodents. During winters, they also eat plant food like grass due to the scarcity of animals around. Also, they don’t migrate to other places and hence face food problems during winters. Their typical breeding season is spring. These birds are famous in the southwest United States. They get featured a lot in folklore and cartoon there and are very popular among children because of this. They can also be called ground birds.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for can roadrunners fly, then why not take a look at birds that can’t fly or roadrunner facts?
The roadrunners of the genus Geococcyx, are a kind of birds that can sprint or sometimes fly furry-ously!
