New Mexico State Bird
Greater Roadrunner

• Official New Mexico State Bird Name: Roadrunner
• American Ornithologists' Union Common Name: Greater Roadrunner
• Family: Cuculidae, Cuckoos, Roadrunners, Anis
• Scientific name: Geococcyx californianus
• Length: 23" (58 cm)
• Diet: Animals (90%), including insects, lizards, snakes, rodents, birds (especially passerines); fruit (especially cactus), seeds.
• Voice: Meep Meep (just kidding!)
  Song a slow, descending series of about six resonant, low-pitched coos: cooo cooo cooo cooo coo coo; weaker at end. Also a low, hollow, wooden clatter or rattle trrrt produced by bill.
• Habitat: Common in scrub desert and mesquite groves; less common in chaparral and open woodland.
• Displays: Male parades with head held high and stiff, wings and tail drooped; precedes male mating song. Male also bows, alternately lifts and drops wings while spreading tail.
• Number of broods: 1, occasionally 2.
• Nest: Usually in low tree, thicket, or cactus clump. Of sticks, lined with leaves, grass, feathers, mesquite pod, snakeskin, roots, and manure flakes. Occasionally atop woodrat nest.
• Eggs: Averages 4-6 white eggs with chalky yellowish coat. 1.5" (39 mm).
• Incubation period: 20 days
• Fledge: 18 days after hatching
• Longevity Record: 3 Years and 9 months (according to USGS Bird Banding Lab).  They undoubtably live longer, but a banded bird has never been recaptured over a longer time span to prove it.

The chaparral bird, commonly called roadrunner, is adopted as the official New Mexico State Bird

New Mexico Birds

Return to 50 State Birds Page

Return to Bird Watching Bliss Home Page

Favorite Bird Watching Binoculars, Feeder & Field Guide
Nikon Monarch's - Best Binoculars for Bird Watching Based on Quality & Price	Keeps Squirrels Out, No Batteries, Easy Adjustable Spring, Won Best New Product Award	Excellent Illustrations & Unique System For Easier Bird ID. Eastern/Central, Western & N.A. Editions
Click Images To View More Info