Greater roadrunners are non-migratory birds that can run up to 17 miles per hour.

Phoenix Zoo

Roadrunners prefer to walk or run and will fly only when absolutely necessary.

The roadrunner holds its head and tail flat and parallel to the ground when running at its top speed. In fact, they prefer to walk or run and will fly only when absolutely necessary. Even then, they can only remain airborne for a few seconds.

The head, neck, back, and wings of greater roadrunners are dark brown-black and heavily streaked with white, while the breast is mostly white. A particularly notable feature is the crest of black feathers, which is raised or lowered at will. They have a long tail which is used for steering, braking, and balancing. There is a streak of bare blue and red skin near the eyes and the legs and beak are blue. The feet have two toes pointed forward and two toes pointed backward. The sexes are similar in appearance and, overall, the body has a streamlined appearance. They average 10 ounced in weight and can be 19.5 yo 24 inches in length.

Roadrunners are primarily a species of the southwestern United States, although their full range includes other areas as well. The roadrunner is uniquely suited to a desert environment by a number of physiological and behavioral adaptations.

• The roadrunner is able to get along without drinking water if it eats food with high enough water content, but it will drink readily if water is available.

• It reabsorbs water from its feces before excretion.

• A nasal gland eliminates excess salt, instead of using the urinary tract like most birds.

• It reduces its activity 50 percent during the heat of midday.

The roadrunner feeds almost exclusively on other animals, including insects, scorpions, lizards, snakes, rodents and other birds. Because of its lightening quickness, the Roadrunner is one of the few animals that preys upon rattlesnakes. Using its wings like a matador's cape, it snaps up a coiled rattlesnake by the tail, cracks it like a whip and repeatedly slams its head against the ground till dead. It then swallows its prey whole, but is often unable to swallow the entire length at one time. This does not stop the Roadrunner from its normal routine. It will continue to meander about with the snake (or other prey) dangling from its mouth, consuming another inch or two as the snake slowly digests.

The breeding and nesting seasons vary geographically. In regions where there is one rainy season, they nest only in the spring. Where there are two rainy seasons (as in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona) and thus more food resources, they will nest again in August and September. Food is an important component of the mating ritual. The male will tempt the female with a morsel such as a lizard or snake dangling from its beak. If the female accepts the offered food, the pair will probably mate. In another display, the male wags his tail in front of the female. Greater roadrunner pairs may mate for life.

Brood size ranges from 2 to 8 eggs, which are white or pale yellow. Incubation lasts about 20 days and begins after the first few eggs are laid and is done by either parent. The first to hatch often crowd out the late-arriving runts, which are sometimes eaten by the parents. Usually only 3 or 4 young are finally fledged from the nest. Young development is quite rapid; they can run and catch their own prey at 3 weeks.

Greater roadrunners have a wide range of vocalizations among which are slow, low coos in descending pitch to a whirring call during mating. Greater roadrunners are very curious and won't hesitate to approach humans. They have also been observed "sunbathing." In the morning and on cooler days, they position their feathers so the black skin can absorb the sunlight and warm the body. Their lifespan 7 to 8 years.

The Phoenix Zoo currently has one roadrunner that can be seen in the Arizona Aviary, although wild roadrunners are often spotted around the zoo, as well!

The Phoenix Zoo is located at 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. Rain or shine, the zoo is open every day except Christmas Day (Dec. 25). Regular-season hours (Sept. 1-May 31) are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Summer hours (June 1-Aug. 31) are 7 a.m.-1 p.m. during the week and 7 a.m.-4 p.m. on the weekends Admission is $14 for adults, $6 for children and $9 for seniors. For more information, call 602-273-1341 or visit www.PhoenixZoo.org.