Roadrunners (Geococcyx californianus) of the Southwest
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I am not in the SW and am missing seeing Roadies, The best alternative was to generate new posts from my archives. Here is one from my last visit to California.
Two more Arizona shots this evening. This Greater Roadrunner and a Cactus Wren.
Buckeye. Maricopa County, Arizona.
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Texas Icons. Roadrunner and Bluebonnets I have been hoping to get this opportunity all this spring. This roadrunner gave me the perfect pose in the perfect spot with the morning sun hitting it. . Thanks for looking and have a great weekend
I missed Cinco de Mayo by a week but my two posts tonight have a SW flavor in a belated recognition. Further, Roadrunners are one of my favorite species to photograph.
Southern California
A Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) in the desert landscape near Buckeye, Arizona, U.S.A.
21 February, 2014.
Slide # GWB_20140221_2848.CR2
Use of this image on websites, blogs or other media without explicit permission is not permitted.
© Gerard W. Beyersbergen - All Rights Reserved Worldwide In Perpetuity - No Unauthorized Use.
A Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) searching for some prey on the desert landscape near Buckeye, Arizona, U.S.A.
Its cryptic colouration allows it to blend so well into the desert landscape habitat in which it lives.
21 February, 2014.
Slide # GWB_20140221_2713.CR2
Use of this image on websites, blogs or other media without explicit permission is not permitted.
© Gerard W. Beyersbergen - All Rights Reserved Worldwide In Perpetuity - No Unauthorized Use.
Roadrunners always seem so proud when they catch a bite to eat.
Los correcaminos siempre parecen muy orgullosos al capturar algo de comer.
Roadrunners are aptly named. While they can fly, it seems they do a lot more ground travel. And they can outpace a human in a footrace. But, unlike the cartoons, they cannot outpace a coyote. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, a coyote may top out at a speed of 43 mph (~69 kph) while the roadrunner is only about 1/2 that speed. Still impressive though! They're very well adapted to the Desert Southwest, getting a lot of their moisture from the foods they eat like small juicy mammals or reptiles. Greater roadrunners are roughly the size of a crow (ish). Roadrunners are in the Cuckoo family of birds. (just learned that today 😁)
At the Great Southwest exhibit, Zoo America in Hershey, PA -
This facility is a gem. Burrowing owls, Roadrunners, Gambel’s quails and desert tortoises coexist in a large indoor garden... without glass or wire caging.
I grew up watching the roadrunner cartoon..beep beep..our spring weather came to a screeching halt yesterday with snow and ice 😕..I will assess damages to the spring flowers in a few days...Thank you very much for viewing my photo ! I truly appreciate any faves and comments ! 🐦
As 2022 winds down, I'm posting a series of shots from each of our six trips taken during the year, in chronological order.
Our second trip included a few days in southern Arizona where we found this Greater Roadrunner along a trail in Saguaro National Park.
I would have preferred a pose with this guy facing just a little more to the right. But my time with him was very brief as it ran across the trail, paused for about 2 seconds and then scurried toward the nearest cover. So this will have to suffice.
Roadrunner
Sweetwater wetlands
We made the rounds today. Started at Silverbell Lake and ended up at Sweetwater. Good day of birding.
Tucson, Arizona
A Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) scurries through the scrub brush of the desert near Cave Creek Canyon in southeast Arizona, U.S.A.
2 March, 2012.
Slide # GWB_20120302_1230.CR2
Use of this image on websites, blogs or other media without explicit permission is not permitted.
© Gerard W. Beyersbergen - All Rights Reserved Worldwide In Perpetuity - No Unauthorized Use.
While I was working in my garden putting the seeds in the ground, this curious little guy, my “wild” pet, was sitting on the fence watching me. It knows I usually have a few tasty pieces of meat with me. :))
We saw this roadrunner at Watson Lake. He was not shy at all. He ran right up to me and got startlingly close. Cool birds
Roadrunners (Geococcyx californianus) are long, slender birds with long expressive tails, shaggy crests and strong legs for running. These birds are known for their swift and characteristic style of running (up to 15 mph for short distances). They prefer dry open habitat with scattered brush. Roadrunners range throughout the southwestern United States and into central Mexico.
The roadrunners (genus Geococcyx), also known as chaparral birds or chaparral cocks, are two species of fast-running ground cuckoos with long tails and crests. They are found in the southwestern and south-central United States and Mexico,[1][2] usually in the desert. Although capable of flight, roadrunners generally run away from predators. On the ground, some have been clocked at 32 km/h (20 mph) while a few have also been clocked up to 43 km/h (27 mph).[ci
Have a wonderful new week.
Photographers know the challenge of getting a good bird in flight shot. When the bird is a Greater Roadrunner, the challenge can be when they're on the ground. Dang they're fast. A close look at this shot reveals the blur on the bird's foot even though the shutter speed was 1/1000.
This one was showing off its speed near Rio Grande Village in Big Bend National Park.
Here’s another one from the Lower Rio Grande Valley from earlier this month. This Greater Roadrunner was chasing what we assumed was its mate stopping from time to time to wag its tail. It was certainly a fun moment of the trip.
Geococcyx californianus
_MG_4462-web
This Roadrunner liked this spot and made several jumps from the same position to take what I considered a lookout position at the top of the tree. Roadrunners are difficult subjects without the aid of a blind and water to attract them. They are quite fun to watch as they skitter around like they own the place. Well, I guess they do1. (Greater Roadrunner - Geococcyx Californianus) (Sony a1ii, 70-200 lens @ 193mm, f/4.5, 1/4000 second, ISO 1600)