The Greater Roadrunner is a large ground cuckoo capable of running at speeds up to 20 mph to catch prey, including rattlesnakes it kills by slamming against the ground. It is well adapted to desert heat, raising its feathers to expose dark skin to the morning sun to warm up after cold nights. In Southwestern Native American cultures it represents good luck and protection.
Habitat
Desert scrub, open woodlands, and chaparral
Diet
Lizards, snakes, scorpions, insects, and small birds
How common
Common
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