Greater roadrunner

Geococcyx californianus · The greater roadrunner is a long-legged, ground-dwelling cuckoo found in arid regions of the Southwestern United States and Mexico.

Also called Chaparral cock, Ground cuckoo, Snake killer.

Greater roadrunner
Photo: Polinova, CC BY-SA 4.0
Greater roadrunner
Photo: Nandaro, CC BY-SA 4.0
Greater roadrunner
Photo: Photo: Gordon Leggett / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderCuculiformes
FamilyCuculidae
GenusGeococcyx
SpeciesGeococcyx californianus

Where it lives

Deserts and scrub of the southwestern US and northern Mexico.

Fun facts

  • Roadrunners can sprint up to 26 mph (42 km/h), making them the fastest-running flying bird ever recorded.
  • Its diet includes venomous prey like black widow spiders, tarantulas, scorpions, and even young rattlesnakes.
  • At night a roadrunner cuts its energy use by over 30%, letting its body temperature drop from 104°F to 93°F.
  • To warm up each morning, it ruffles its feathers to expose black skin to the sun, sunbathing for two or three hours.

Play it

The Greater roadrunner was the creature in Birder on November 9, 2026. Can you identify tomorrow's from its photos? Every day brings a new creature to place from kingdom to genus, map and name.

Play today's creature or replay a past daily

Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).