Watch This Roadrunner Swiftly Patrol the Parched Desert in Search of a Meal

This staggering footage is a clip from an acclaimed wildlife documentary produced by the UK’s BBC. Narrated by famous biologist David Attenborough, it explores the great American deserts in the southwest US and the animals that can survive there. The summer heat here is relentless – at 7 am the temperature is already 77 degrees F. One of the few animals that can be spotted here is the roadrunner. As the video at the bottom of this page shows, it is a remarkable animal.

Check out This Full Video Below to See a Roadrunner in Action!

Where Do Roadrunners Normally Live?

Roadrunners (Geococcyx) are related to the cuckoo and live in North and Central America. In the US you can spot them in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California.

Their preferred habitats are deserts and brush as well as grassland. They can most often be seen on the ground or sitting on low perches.

How Fast Can Roadrunners Run?

Roadrunners can run at speeds of up to 25 mph and it is their ability to run that has earned them their name. However, they can also fly albeit for only short distances because they have undeveloped pectoral flight muscles.

These birds evolved to be able to run quickly because there are not that many perching places in the desert. Also, many of their predators live on the ground so it makes sense to be able to run away from them! To help them run, they have long and slender legs, and aerodynamic bodies and have learned how to lean into the run which helps to propel their body forward.

What Do Roadrunners Normally Eat?

In this clip, we see a roadrunner attempting to bag a meal before the heat of the day drives all the animals underground. It spots a lizard that is too big and eventually settles for a centipede.

Greater roadrunners can eat a wide variety of prey. They are capable of catching small rodents and reptiles and will happily eat insects. So, on the roadrunner menu, you will find spiders, snakes, mice, and fruit to name just a few. Animals that live in desert habitats do not have many prey animals to choose from and so they cannot afford to be fussy!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Frank Fichtmueller/Shutterstock.com