A bird born to run,the Greater Roadrunner can outrace a human,kill a rattlesnake,and thrive in the harsh landscapes of the desert southwest.Roadrunners reach two feet from sturdy bill to white tail tip,with a bushy blue-black crest and mottled plumage that blends well with dusty shrubs.As they run ,they hold their lean frames nearly parallel to the ground and rudder with their long tails.They have recently extended their range eastward into Missouri and Louisiana.Roadrunners are generally found in the deserts of Southwestern United States,Central America and Mexico.
Greater Roadrunners eat poisonous prey,including venomous lizards and scorpions,with no ill effect,although they're careful to swallow horned lizards head-first with the horns pointed away from vital organs.Roadrunners can also kill and eat rattlesnakes often in tandem with another roadrunner,as one distracts the snake by jumping and flapping,the other sneaks up and pins its head ,then bashes the snake against a rock,if it's is too long to swallow all at once,a Roadrunner will walk around with a length of snake still protruding from its bill,swallowing it a little at a time as the snake digests.
Greater Roadrunner eat mostly animals,including almost anything they can catch,small mammals,reptiles,frogs,toads,insects,centipedes,scorpions,and birds.Roadrunners also eat carrion and prey on bird eggs and chicks.They kill rattlesnakes by pecking them repeatedly in the head.They slam large pray,such as rodents and lizards,against a rock or the ground multiple times to break down the bones and elongate the victim,making it easier to swallow.These opportunistic preadators have also been known to grab birds from backyards feeders or nest boxes.In winter ,fruit,seeds,and other plant material make up 10% of Roadrunner's diet.
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