Wildlife of the World
Puzzle 78 · Deserts and High Plateaus · Page 115 in print
Greater Roadrunner
Greater roadrunners search dry southwestern landscapes for insects, lizards and small birds. They hunt mainly on the ground, in open country with scattered brush such as mesquite.
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A greater roadrunner runs across open ground.
Species reference for Greater Roadrunner. The photograph does not necessarily show the population or place named in the puzzle.
(c) Jonathan Eisen, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 · Original recordImage changes
Resized and converted to JPEG for display; no subject alteration.
A greater roadrunner holds small prey in its bill.
Species reference for Greater Roadrunner. The photograph does not necessarily show the population or place named in the puzzle.
(c) Jody Shugart, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 · Original recordImage changes
Resized and converted to JPEG for display; no subject alteration.
The words
Big Bend
Greater roadrunners were found in all four grassland types surveyed at Big Bend National Park.
US National Park Service: Big Bend Bird Studies (opens a new tab)
Cactus
Roadrunners eat cactus fruit; nests are often in cactus.
Canyon
Arroyos and canyons are among the dry-country habitats used by greater roadrunners.
Carrion
Roadrunners will eat carrion.
Chaparral
Roadrunners live in brushy country, including chaparral.
Coyote
Coyotes eat roadrunner eggs.
Cuckoo
The greater roadrunner is a member of the cuckoo family.
Lizards
Roadrunners eat lizards.
Mesquite
Roadrunners prefer mesquite woodland and savanna.
Paisano
The roadrunner is also known as paisano.
Rattlesnake
Roadrunners eat rattlesnakes.
Roadrunner
The greater roadrunner is a long-legged member of the cuckoo family that usually hunts on foot.
Shaggy Crest
Roadrunners raise and lower a shaggy crest.
Short Flights
Roadrunners can fly short distances but prefer the ground.
Sunbathing
Roadrunners sunbathe on cool mornings, exposing dark skin to the sun.
Sources
- Greater Roadrunner (source capture)US National Park Service: Big Bend Bird Studies
- Greater Roadrunner (source capture)National Audubon Society
- Greater Roadrunner (source capture)US National Park Service, White Sands National Park
- Greater Roadrunner (source capture)Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
- Greater Roadrunner (source capture)US Geological Survey (publication record)
- Greater Roadrunner (source capture)Texas Parks and Wildlife Department