Roadrunner Quiz
Spotting a Greater Roadrunner in the wild is not an unusual occurrence for birdwatchers in Maricopa county. Unlike some difficult to identify birds, Roadrunners are easily recognizable. Few birds are more entrenched in the minds of everyday people. They’re part of popular culture (let’s hear you say “Beep! Beep!”). They’re recognized as a state bird (New Mexico). Their name has been adopted by many sports teams (e.g., Tucson Roadrunners hockey team). They have even had an automobile named for them (Plymouth Road Runner).
Greater Roadrunners are big birds, and although capable of short bursts of flight, their true agility is their speed on the ground. When pursuing prey, they can reach speeds of 15-20 miles per hour. That’s up there with Usain Bolt’s 100-meter record of just over 23 miles per hour. Okay, so Usain Bolt is faster, but he can’t fly – even in short bursts.
Watching a Roadrunner hunt is a real treat. When it spots its prey, it will frequently crouch low to the ground like a cat. Then, when it’s ready to sprint, it will raise its tail and take off. When it catches a lizard or small snake, it will beat it back and forth against the ground before swallowing it whole.
Being a desert dweller, Roadrunners don’t like cold weather, especially in the early winter mornings and evenings. To keep its body temperature moderated, the Roadrunner takes advantage of what you might call “avian sunbathing.” It will position its back toward the sun and spread its wings to expose the downy body feathers and skin to the warm sunshine.
How much do you know about Greater Roadrunners? Here are a few questions followed by the answers test your expertise.
Questions:
What was the original name of the Maricopa Audubon Society’s Cactus Wren-dition newsletter?
What is the name of the colorful eyepatch behind the Roadrunner’s eyes?
Is there a Lesser Roadrunner?
What name describes a Greater Roadrunner’s footprint?
What family do Greater Roadrunners belong to?
Answers:
Roadrunner, first published in June 1954.
Postorbital apterium
Yes, the smaller version is found along Mexico’s west coast into central America as far south as western Nicaragua
Zygodactyl – having the toes of each foot arranged in pairs, with two toes in front and two behind
Cuckoo
Here are a few photographs of this unique bird of the American Southwest. Click on any of them to enlarge a slideshow.
