Greater Roadrunner
Geococcyx californianus
They are one of the few animals that regularly prey on rattlesnakes, often slamming the snake's head against a rock to kill it.
- Scientific name
- Geococcyx californianus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Cuculiformes › Cuculidae › Geococcyx
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- desert
- Habitat
- Arid scrublands, deserts, and open grasslands with scattered brush for nesting.
- Diet
- Opportunistic carnivore: eats lizards, snakes, scorpions, insects, rodents, and occasionally fruit.
- Range
- Southwestern United States, Mexico
- Size
- 52-62 cm in length, weighing 220-540 grams.
- Lifespan
- 7-8 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation, pesticide accumulation through prey, and predation by feral cats.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and often curious. Maintain a respectful distance of 10-15 feet to observe natural hunting behavior. Do not attempt to feed, as they are highly efficient wild predators.
The greater roadrunner ( Geococcyx californianus ) is a long-legged bird in the cuckoo family, Cuculidae, from Southwestern United States and Mexico. The Latin name means "Californian earth-cuckoo". Along with the lesser roadrunner, it is one of two species in the roadrunner genus Geococcyx . This roadrunner is also known as the chaparral cock, ground cuckoo, and snake killer.
Photo: MarvalPhotography19, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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