Roadrunners are fast on their feet.
Roadrunners are iconic animals of the American southwest with their spotted, feathered bodies and long tails. These birds are part of the cuckoo family and they are especially unique in the animal kingdom because they are one of the few animals that can kill a rattlesnake instead of the other way around. These birds get their names because they rarely fly and get around mainly by running quickly along the ground. Lack of flight doesn't hinder these birds because their speed is all in their legs.
Facts
Roadrunners can run up to 18 miles per hour, according to All About Birds. The roadrunners living in deserts use salt glands to excrete excess salt from their bloodstream. These glands are located in the front of the eyes. Many ocean-dwelling birds have these glands so it's possible for them to drink saltwater. Roadrunners can go without water as long as they eat food with high water content.
Identification
Roadrunners are easily identified when they run because they flatten their heads and tails parallel to the ground so they can gain the most speed. From beak to tail, they are about 20 inches long and their wingspan can reach 19 inches. The birds are zygodactyls, meaning two of their toes point frontward and two point backward.
Habitat
Roadrunners live primarily in the American southwest, where they find homes in grasslands, deserts and woodlands. From Missouri to Mexico to the south coast of California, roadrunners sleep and nest among thorny sticks and in trees. They don't mind the weather hot and dry. To keep themselves warm at night, they fluff their feathers and turn their backs to the sun during the day. Their black skin absorbs more heat to keep them warm through the night.
Diet
Roadrunners are omnivorous scavengers and will eat anything from eggs in nests to scorpions and snakes. They also eat spiders, lizards, birds, rodents, carrion and fruit. They are fast and can snatch dragonflies and hummingbirds from the air as they fly by, according to Bridgerland Audubon Society.
Behavior
Roadrunners fly when they sense danger but most of the time, they prefer being on their feet. When they do fly, they only stay airborne for a few seconds at a time.
One of the most peculiar behaviors of the roadrunner occurs after it kills a rattlesnake. It will begin to eat the snake whole and after it is full, it will walk around with the snake hanging from its beak until its stomachs digest food, making room for more, according to the Bridgerland Audubon Society.
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