Greater Roadrunners

I followed this Roadrunner around campus for a steady portrait, and it couldn’t wait. What an impatient gentlebird!

I remember the first time I saw the Greater Roadrunner; I was amused. The next time I encountered it in a picture, I thought it was having a bad hair day because of its natural mohawk hairstyle. I first noticed this species here in New Mexico. Like their relatives, the California quail (the state bird of California) is fascinating. I have also written about my experience with a hummingbird and California quails during my month-long stay in Blue Oak Nature Reserve, run by the University of California, Berkeley, where I assisted in recording bird sounds.

On my way to the University of New Mexico’s Zimmerman Library this morning, I noticed a Roadrunner dashing across the road. I found it interesting how cautious the bird was, avoiding human traffic as much as possible while remaining focused on its mission. I’ve seen it several times around the library, and I’m sure it has a nest nearby. The Roadrunner first hid under dense foliage before reappearing. It then dashed across the road in three or four quick leaps. After that, it hopped onto a large rock and paused for a while, almost as if it knew I was taking a picture of it. Finally, it dashed off toward the bushes. This bird resembles a miniature African Ostrich. While they are similar in gait, it’s worth noting that Ostriches are flightless, large, have longer necks, fluffier feathers, and are distinguished by their baldness. These two remarkable individuals share an identical leap-running style in every aspect.

I see why Roadrunners are so proud; they are the state bird of New Mexico. No wonder! Well, I’m curious why such a graceful bird, capable of flight, chose to hop and run instead of fly.