Greater Roadrunner

Geococcyx californianus

Explore this bird

Identification

58 cm (23") Common in southwestern North America. State bird for New Mexico. Scrub deserts.

Large, streaked brown and white, ground running cuckoo. Crested. Long heavy bill. Long white-edged tail.

Eats snakes, rodents, insects, lizards and small birds. Runs fast, faster than the Coyote.

Details in the field

4 photos

Credit: Bill Gracey

Watch and learn

3 videos

Greater Roadrunner

Credit: Don DesJardin

GREATER ROADRUNNER BIRD HUNTING

Credit: 4GUESTS USA

Greater Roadrunner (Ground Cuckoo)

Credit: Don DesJardin

Where it lives

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.