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Knowing New Mexico: Five facts about the roadrunner
The roadrunner — more specifically the greater roadrunner, scientific name Geococcyx californianus — was declared New Mexico's state bird in 1949.
According to the National Audubon Society, roadrunners are common in brushlands and deserts throughout the Southwestern United States and in Mexico. A roadrunner's diet consists of the occasional cactus fruit or seed, but mostly of smaller birds, lizards, mice, bugs and even rattlesnakes.
Here are five facts to know about the majestic bird.
Roadrunners are a part of the Cuckoo family.
Its song can sometimes be mistaken for dove coos or dog-like whines. You can listen to the Audubon's recordings of the roadrunner's song here.
Roadrunners may mate for life. Courtship includes chases, gifting sticks or blades of grass to a significant other and males putting on displays by raising and lowering wings, tail wagging and bowing.
A roadrunner can run only 15 mph — or a little faster if sprinting — meaning it could not actually outrun Wile E. Coyote.
There is a 20-foot-high-by-40-foot-long roadrunner sculpture in Las Cruces made out of recycled material. The Las Cruces Sun-News reported the sculpture was first made in 1993 as part of a recycling education program for the local landfill. In 2001, it was moved to the Scenic View rest area along Interstate 10 looking over the city and valley toward the Organ Mountains.
