Greater Roadrunner

About the Greater Roadrunner

Also known as: Chaparral Cock

The Greater Roadrunner is a long-legged bird and the largest North American cuckoo. It has a bushy crest and a long dark tail. Its breeding habitat is desert and shrubby country in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Although capable of flight, it spends most of its time on the ground where it can run at speeds of 20 miles per hour!

The Greater Roadrunner is the state bird of New Mexico and is well known as the basis for the character in the Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner cartoons.

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Details & Statistics

Added to Birdorable
Hatched on 19 July 2009
Scientific Name
Geococcyx californianus
  • Cuculiformes
  • Cuculidae
  • Geococcyx
  • G. californianus
Birdorable Family
Conservation Status
Least Concern (as of 5 April 2020)
LC
  • Least Concern (LC)
  • Near Threatened (NT)
  • Vulnerable (VU)
  • Endangered (EN)
  • Critically Endangered (CR)
  • Extinct in the Wild (EW)
  • Extinct (EX)
Source: IUCN Red List
Measurements
Units: Imperial / Metric
22 inches
10.5 ounces

International Names

Czech (Cesky) Kukačka Kohoutí
Danish (Dansk) Stor Jordgøg
Dutch (Nederlands) Roadrunner
Finnish (Suomi) Kalifornianjuoksukäki
French (Français) Grand Géocoucou
German (Deutsch) Wegekuckuck
Italian (Italiano) Corridore della Strada
Japanese (日本語) オオミチバシリ (Oomichibashiri)
Norwegian (Norsk) Storløpegjøk
Polish (Polski) Kukawka Kalifornijska
Russian (русский язык) Земляная кукушка
Spanish (Español) Correcaminos Grande
Swedish (Svenska) Större Tuppgök
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Birdorable 188: Greater Roadrunner

Birdorable 188: Greater Roadrunner

Today's addition in our Birdorable Bonanza is the Greater Roadrunner, a long-legged bird and the largest North American cuckoo. Its breeding habitat is desert and shrubby country in the southwestern United States ... more