They aren’t called roadrunners for nothing. Truthfully, every time I’ve seen one they’ve been running down a road. My husband once saw one running around in a National Park near Albuquerque, but I didn’t personally witness this. Besides, “parkrunners” just doesn’t have the same appeal (or alliteration).
A couple days ago we were heading for Albuquerque and a roadrunner ran right in front of our car before sailing gracefully (and pretty close to the ground) after he made it across. So they can glide kind of like a turkey. And since I’ve never seen roadrunner roadkill, I’d wager they have a pretty good record on beating the cars.
Whether coyotes ever get the better of them I couldn’t say. But we do have coyotes in our midst so it’s not impossible. But from the looks of them they don’t have a lot of meat on their bones so I bet they’re not too worthwhile a catch.
Roadrunners in Downtown Albuquerque?
Last weekend we were in Albuquerque and I had to blink twice to make sure what I saw was what I was really seeing. A roadrunner hanging out in a strip mall! Yes, right in the middle of Albuquerque. One of my friends tells me he sees them in Albuquerque quite often. Funny, that.
One of our fellow “country bumpkin” artist buddies told us he lost a small population of horned lizards to a predatory roadrunner one season. When the roadrunner moved on, the lizards moved back onto his property. They are good hunters, but I like my lizards so hopefully the roadrunners will stay on the roads and off our twenty acres!
A Few Cool Roadrunner Facts:
- They belong to the cuckoo family
- They can measure up to 24 inches tail to beak
- They can weigh as little as 8 ounces and as much as 24 ounces
- They can run up to 20 mph!
- It is believed that roadrunners mate for life
- They are the state bird of New Mexico (I love that!)
- They can eat venomous snakes (also a cool fact)
Roadrunners are long-lived for wild birds…up to eight years. I imagine one could get kind of attached to a roadrunner in the area and get to know him or her after a few years.
Well, another interesting critter in New Mexico. You just never know what you might “run” into here. (Unintended pun, but I kind of like it.)
Have you ever seen a roadrunner, and if so, where?
Noelle Avritt says
I lived in tucson arizona. Saw a lot of them. Saw them killing snakes. They would pick the snake up and then throw them down. They did that a few times. I got to pet a road runner.
Merry says
I’d love to pet one, Noelle! And that sounds like a pretty efficient way to kill a snake. Thanks for your thoughts!
Treva says
We have them on our property here in OK. Had a nesting pair for several years. One year they had their nest in our stock trailer. I took lots of pictures of the progression of the chicks. Another time, the adult was coming inside our metal building to get the many dead crickets, she was soon bringing in the chicks. I have a couple of pictures of that. NOTE: the crickets died of natural causes, no insecticide for the birds to ingest. I never saw one eat a snake but have pictures of them with mice to feed the chicks and a chick eating a mouse. They are hard on the lizard population as well. I wish had video of them chasing and catching grasshoppers. It’s very entertaining. We still have a few around but they don’t nest near our house anymore. Our dogs chase all birds, including the buzzards that like to hang out over our place riding the thermals.
Merry says
Oh, how interesting, Treva! I would love to see some photos of those chicks…Yes, a video of them chasing and catching grasshoppers would be mighty entertaining!
Treva says
I’ll share some with you.
Merry says
I saw them on my FB page…they are wonderful!!! Thank you so much – I thoroughly enjoyed them!
JODETTE Weikel says
Texas here. We love them.
They do seem to mate for life. They take out snakes and scorpions. Knew a rancher who fed a pair bacon to keep them on his property for bug control.
I’ve seen them snatch a songbird out of the air. Their speed is phenomenal!
Roadrunner jewelry, Merry?
Merry says
Oh my gosh, taking a songbird out of the air! I worry about my CATS doing that, never thought roadrunners had that ability! And I didn’t realize they ate scorpions. Spicy taste in food! BTW I did make a roadrunner once out of polymer clay, and maybe I should create one in silver. Thanks for the idea!
Lois says
That’s so cool!
I’ve only ever seen them in the cartoons, zooming along and going “beep beep”!! Haha! Would love to see one in real life!
Love your stories!
Merry says
Yes, apparently they are pretty common around here and other western states. The first one I saw was in Arkansas! And they do zoom along, not sure about the “beep beep” part though!