Well for my blog this week I researched the greater roadrunner, in Latin known as Geococcyx californianus, this is translated as the Californian Earth-cuckoo. I chose this bird because all I ever knew about this species was what I learned as a kid from cartoons. My understanding of its appearance was quite skewed. So the cartoon bird is so tall and big, but in reality it is only 22 inches tall and only weighs about 10 ounces. I also grew up with the impression it was vibrant shades of blue, but it turns out it only has little bits of blue and is mostly brown and speckled. Its bill is long and dark not at all like the short yellow one I was familiar with. I was also shocked to learn that they can't run fast enough to disappear in a blur, but 26 MPH is nothing to sneeze at. Especially concerning it is the fastest bird that can fly. Instead of using that speed to avoid falling anvils it uses it to catch it's prey of insects and small reptiles. Despite all these differences I am pleased to see that its habitat of the American southwest and Mexico is still the same as well as the extreme base fact that it belongs to the avian group of animals, or for the rest of you that aren't scientifically inclined that means IT IS A BIRD. Knowing all this I can now appreciate the roadrunner both for his comic relief and as a wonderful member of the animal kingdom.
