roadrunner
a kind of bird – ground bird (but can fly short distances) – belongs to the cuckoo bird family – medium-sized with black-brown and white streaked feathers, small cone-shaped head with a head crest (= a thick tuft of hair on the head), bare red spot behind each eye, long, strong pointed beak (bill), relatively long neck, slender body, relatively short round wings, long strong legs and feet with two toes turned front and two toes turned back, long broad tail with white tips (tail usually held up); size: 1½-2 feet long, including the tail, 10-12 inch tall, and weight: 350-400 grams; feeds on (eats) insects, small reptiles, including rattle snakes, worms, small birds and bird eggs, nestlings (= baby birds in the nest), and fruit and seeds in winter months; lives for 7-8 years; two species – ‘greater road-runner’ and ‘lesser roadrunner’, native to North and Central America
male ~~ cock
female ~~ hen
baby ~~ chick
group ~~ flock (?)
voice (call) ~~ coo; clatter
home ~~ nest (in the bushes and short trees, for laying eggs and raising chicks)
Special Features:
The roadrunner is the state bird of New Mexico, USA.
The fascinating feature of the roadrunner is, as the name suggests, its running; most of the time it prefers walking or running on the ground to flying in the air. However, it is capable of flying short distance, and does fly to escape from fast running predators, such as coyotes!
The roadrunners mate for life. In courtship the male may bring some food as an offering to the female, and both male and female look after the eggs and the chicks.
The roadrunner is also called ‘chaparral cock’, and in Mexico it is called ‘paisono’ which means “county man”.
cartoon roadrunner
The roadrunner is a popular character in several comics and cartoons – the most popular being the one produced by Warner Brothers Cartoons!
The name roadrunner is so popular in the States that several business establishments have used its name for brand name and logo, such as an international sports store, Road Runner, selling running shoes and other sports gear.
The IBM super computer, the world’s fastest computer, is named Road Runner!
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About the Author:BC Kumar
BC Kumar, an English Language Teacher, taught in numerous countries including Ethiopia, Oman and India, shares his knowledge and passion for the English Language. Disclaimer: This is a free educational website and all content has been compiled by the author. All copyrights to images and videos belong to their respective owners.
