Greater roadrunner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Greater roadrunner |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Geococcyx
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| Species: |
californianus
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| Range of G. californianus | |
The greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) is a fast-running bird found in the deserts of North America. It is one of two types of roadrunner, with the other being the lesser roadrunner. People sometimes call the greater roadrunner the "ground cuckoo" or the "snake killer" because of its habits.
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About the Roadrunner
The greater roadrunner is a medium-sized bird. It is the largest North American cuckoo.
Size and Appearance
This bird is usually around 52 to 62 centimeters (20 to 24 inches) long. Its wingspan can spread about 43 to 61 centimeters (17 to 24 inches) wide. It weighs between 221 and 538 grams. The roadrunner stands about 25 to 30 centimeters (10 to 12 inches) tall.
It has a long, thick beak and a long, dark tail. Its head is dark, and the front of its neck and belly are blue. The roadrunner has special feet called zygodactyl feet. This means two toes point forward and two point backward on each foot. This helps it grip things well.
Where Roadrunners Live
The greater roadrunner lives in the deserts of the southwestern United States of America. You can find them in states like California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Nevada. Sometimes, they are seen further east in places like Kansas or Missouri.
They also live in the northern parts of Mexico. This includes areas like Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, and Nuevo León.
Roadrunner Behavior
Greater roadrunners build their nests out of sticks. They often place these nests in a cactus or a bush. A female roadrunner usually lays 3 to 6 eggs. These eggs take about 20 days to hatch.
What Roadrunners Eat
Roadrunners eat many different things. Their diet mainly includes fruit, seeds, and insects. However, they are also known to hunt small animals. They eat reptiles like snakes and lizards, and small mammals. They also enjoy spiders, scorpions, centipedes, and millipedes. Sometimes, they will eat small birds or bird eggs.
How They Hunt
The greater roadrunner is a clever hunter. It kills its prey by hitting the prey's neck with its strong beak. Another way it hunts is by holding its prey in its beak and hitting it against a rock.
Roadrunners in Beliefs
Some Native American tribes have special beliefs about the roadrunner. For example, the Hopi tribe believed that the roadrunner protected people from evil spirits.
In Mexico, some people say that the roadrunner brings babies to families. This is similar to how some people in Europe believe the white stork brings babies.
Images for kids
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Greater roadrunner walking in the Mojave desert, California
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A greater roadrunner sunbathing
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Greater roadrunner on the run
See also
In Spanish: Correcaminos grande para niños
