Cuckoos (Cuculidae)

Greater Roadrunner

Geococcyx californianus. Lizards, snakes, insects, rodents and small birds.

Cuckoos (Cuculidae)Greater RoadrunnerGeococcyx californianus
Scientific name
Geococcyx californianus
Length
20.5–21.3 in
Weight
7.8–19 oz
Nest
Stick platform in a cactus, thicket or low tree
Entrance hole
Does not use nest boxes
Clutch
2–6 eggs
Incubation
19–20 days
Broods
1–2 per season

Identification

  • Long-legged, streaked brown ground cuckoo
  • Shaggy crest and long white-tipped tail
  • Bare blue-and-orange skin behind the eye

Voice

A descending series of low coos; also a bill clatter.

Diet and feeding

Lizards, snakes, insects, rodents and small birds.

What do roadrunners eat? · Best feeder for roadrunners

Greater Roadrunners by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
ArizonaYear-round residentFebruary–August
ArkansasYear-round residentMarch–August
CaliforniaYear-round residentFebruary–August
ColoradoYear-round residentMarch–August
KansasYear-round residentMarch–August
LouisianaYear-round residentFebruary–August
MissouriYear-round residentMarch–August
NevadaYear-round residentMarch–August
New MexicoYear-round residentMarch–August
OklahomaYear-round residentMarch–August
TexasYear-round residentFebruary–August
UtahYear-round residentMarch–August

Frequently asked

What do roadrunners eat?

Lizards, snakes, insects, rodents and small birds. At feeders: none — never feed meat; it hunts live prey.

How big is a Greater Roadrunner?

20.5–21.3 in long and 7.8–19 oz.

Do roadrunners use birdhouses?

No. Stick platform in a cactus, thicket or low tree.

Sources

  1. Greater Roadrunner — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Greater Roadrunner life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Greater Roadrunner — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.