What's faster than most humans, can kill a rattlesnake, can
survive in a desert and hold a special place in Native American and Mexican
beliefs and legends? No, I'm not talking
about the latest episode of Naked and Afraid or Alone. I am expounding on just some of the
interesting facts about Greater Roadrunners.
Roadrunners use their speed to run down their prey such as
insects, scorpions, centipedes, frogs, toads, small mammals, reptiles, birds, and
will even eat bird eggs and chicks. They
have also been known to take advantage of carrion. Roadrunners can kill a rattlesnake by
repeatedly pecking the snake's head with their thick beaks. They will also beat small mammals and lizards
against rocks to break the bones making them easier to swallow. In the winter roadrunners will supplement
their diet with seeds and fruit.
We had a young roadrunner try to take advantage of our platform bird feeders. He would land on the platform and lay
flat with his wings spread and head turned to one
side. He was very patient and would
remain motionless for 10 to 15 minutes.
When the birds started to return to the feeder he would become excited
and his tail would start to bob up and down.
I never did see him successfully hunt with this behavior. But, he did get the nickname of "Tail".
All though my interest in roadrunners probably came from the
cartoon character with his familiar "Beep-beep," the roadrunners hold a revered
place in the Pueblo tribes. The X shaped
footprint the roadrunner makes with two toes pointing forward and two toes
pointing backwards is thought to confuse evil spirits. The spirits could not decide which way the
bird was heading so they could not follow them.
Other Mexican and Native American beliefs held the roadrunner in high
revere for their endurance, speed, courage and strength.
We often have roadrunners on the roof of our house either
sunbathing or calling to protect their territory. If they are sunbathing, they sit with their
backs to the sun, spread their wings and raise their feathers to expose their
skin to the warming sun. If they are
protecting their territory, which can be up to half a mile, we hear the
haunting coo-cooo-cooooing sound they
make. Roadrunners mate for life and both
will protect their territory.
Although I have referred to the Greater Roadrunner as a
desert species, their range is from the southwest into northern
California. In that range you can find
them from sea level up to elevations of 10,000 feet. They have expanded their range eastward into
Louisiana and Missouri and are now making their homes in pine forests, red
cedar and hardwood stands.
So, whether you came to love Greater Roadrunners because of
the cartoons, their reverence held by native people, or a personal experience
you may want to remind yourself of this special bird with a roadrunner hat, roadrunner socks (will they make you as fast as a roadrunner?) roadrunner nightlight or roadrunner sign.
