The roadrunner is a fast-running bird that lives in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Known for its speed, the roadrunner can run up to 15 miles per hour to catch prey like insects, lizards, snakes, and small mammals. With its unique appearance and speedy running, the roadrunner has become a state symbol and sports mascot. But in what states is the roadrunner officially designated as the state bird?
The Roadrunner Species
There are two species of roadrunner – the greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) and the lesser roadrunner (Geococcyx velox). The greater roadrunner is the largest species, with an average length of 20-24 inches and weight of 8-24 oz. It has a long tail and distinctive head crest. Its coloration is brown, black, and white. The lesser roadrunner is smaller at 16-20 inches in length. It lacks the head crest and has more streaked plumage. The roadrunner’s ranges overlap in Mexico and the southwestern US. The greater roadrunner’s range extends farther north into Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri. The lesser roadrunner is limited to the southern regions of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. When people refer to “the roadrunner,” it is generally the greater roadrunner species.
States Where the Roadrunner is the State Bird
Two states have designated the roadrunner as their official state bird:
New Mexico
New Mexico adopted the roadrunner as the official state bird in 1949. New Mexico seems a fitting home for the roadrunner. Roadrunners are common year-round residents of the deserts, grasslands, and brushy areas of the state. Native Americans in New Mexico incorporated the crafty bird into their folklore. Tribes like the Pueblo and Navajo told tales of the roadrunner outwitting predators like the coyote. When New Mexico residents campaigned for state bird status in the 1940s, they promoted the roadrunner as an iconic local species that reflects values like speed, resourcefulness, and grit. These characteristics embodied the spirit of a pioneering southwestern state. The New Mexico legislature agreed and approved the roadrunner as their official state bird in 1949.
Texas
In 1977, the Texas legislature selected the greater roadrunner as one of their state birds along with the Northern mockingbird. (Texas is one of several states with more than one official state bird.) Though not as widely distributed in Texas as mockingbirds, roadrunners do inhabit scrublands, deserts, and brush in the southern and western regions of the state. Their range covers a large portion of the state’s sprawling land area. Like New Mexicans, Texans also appreciated the legendary trickster qualities of the roadrunner. Its spirited nature encapsulated the essence of Texas pride. Lawmakers thought the roadrunner an appropriate symbol of a rugged, independent state. The mockingbird and roadrunner became dual state birds of Texas in 1977.
Other States Where Roadrunners Live
While New Mexico and Texas are the only states to officially recognize the roadrunner, this bird lives across the desert Southwest. Here are some other places roadrunners inhabit:
Arizona
Roadrunners thrive in Arizona’s Sonoran and Chihuahuan desert habitats. Tall saguaros and spiny vegetation provide the perfect homes. Roadrunners are common sights darting across roads or trailing javelina to snatch up insects they stir up. Though the roadrunner missed out on state bird status, Arizona does have the cactus wren as their official avian emblem.
California
The Golden State sits at the northwest reach of roadrunner range. They inhabit arid lowlands of southern California. Their likeness appears on Palm Springs area murals and even on a city seal. California named the California quail as their state bird instead.
Nevada
In Nevada, roadrunners frequent scrub habitats like creosote and mesquite. While the mountain bluebird earned the honor of Nevada state bird, the roadrunner has been the mascot for University of Nevada Las Vegas teams since the 1980s.
Utah
The Utah state bird is the California seagull, but roadrunners scrape out a living in Utah’s red rock deserts of the south like Zion National Park. Their range just barely enters the southwest corner of the state.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s scissor-tailed flycatcher earned state bird status, though roadrunners inhabit the scrub brush lands, canyon areas, and arid mountains of the panhandle and western regions.
Colorado
In Colorado, roadrunners reach the northern limits of their range. They live sporadically along the state’s western and southern borders. The lark bunting beat out the roadrunner as Colorado’s state symbol.
Kansas
Roadrunners exist in miniscule numbers in the most southwest tip of Kansas. Elsewhere in the state, this species is considered a rare vagrant. Kansas instead chose the Western meadowlark as the state bird.
Roadrunner Fast Facts
Here are some key facts about the speedy roadrunner:
– Roadrunners can run 15 miles per hour – one of the fastest running speeds of any bird. Their top speed is about 20 miles per hour.
– They got the nickname “roadrunner” because they often run across roads in front of vehicles.
– Roadrunners kill prey by whacking it against the ground. They have also been seen dropping rocks on scorpions to break their armor.
– The call of the roadrunner is a loud, descending repetitive cooing. They make a whining call when defending nest sites.
– Roadrunners are one of the only birds that hunt rattlesnakes. They are quick enough to snatch a coiled snake by the head and kill it. Their speed protects them from venomous bites.
– Roadrunners need very little water. They get most of their moisture from prey. During droughts they will eat juicy fruits like prickly pears.
– Roadrunner pairs mate for life and share egg incubation and chick rearing duties. The nest is a scrape lined with grass and feathers.
– Greater roadrunner chicks hatch covered in pale down. Parents shade chicks from the sun with outstretched wings as protection from overheating.
– Roadrunners can fly but prefer running. Their flight is weak and labored. They may fly briefly to get atop bushes or fence posts.
– Roadrunners have shown population declines in some areas as habitat loss and urbanization impact their native environments.
Why Did the Roadrunner Become a State Bird?
So why did New Mexico and Texas feel the roadrunner embodied their state spirit? There are a few reasons this bird was a fitting selection:
It is a Desert-Dwelling Species
The roadrunner thrives in hot, arid environments – the classic desert landscapes of the Southwest. They run across dusty trails and seek shade under spiky cacti. The roadrunner’s ability to prosper in harsh conditions represents the resilience of these states and their people.
It is Uniquely Southwestern
You don’t see roadrunners in Maine, Florida, or Washington. Their range centers on the Southwestern U.S. Choosing the roadrunner celebrated a species only found in these states.
Its Speed and Energy Fit the State Personalities
Texas and New Mexico see themselves as rugged, spirited, and independent. The roadrunner encapsulates these qualities. With its dashing pace and lively nature, it reflects the energy and pride of these states.
It is Part of Native Folklore
Indigenous peoples wove roadrunners into their cultural stories and traditions. Associating the roadrunner with the state honors this heritage.
It Outsmarts Opponents
In cartoons and legends, the roadrunner always prevails over foes, outwitting those who wish it harm. To people of the Southwest, the roadrunner represents wit and gritty perseverance.
The Roadrunner vs. Other State Birds of the Southwest
The Southwestern U.S. is home to a diversity of bird species. Here’s how the roadrunner compares to birds other states selected:
State | State Bird | How the Roadrunner Compares |
---|---|---|
Arizona | Cactus Wren | The cactus wren builds nests in prickly cacti. But the roadrunner’s habitat and range are more widespread. |
California | California Quail | Quail live in chaparral and woodlands, while roadrunners prefer open desert. |
Colorado | Lark Bunting | Lark buntings breed on the prairie grasslands. Roadrunners reach just the southern border regions. |
Nevada | Mountain Bluebird | The mountain bluebird lives statewide in high elevations. The roadrunner stays in lowland deserts. |
New Mexico | Roadrunner | New Mexico made the ideal choice given the roadrunner’s wide habitat range in the state. |
Oklahoma | Scissor-tailed Flycatcher | The scissor-tail is found statewide. Roadrunners inhabit just the west and panhandle. |
Texas | Mockingbird and Roadrunner | Texas wisely covers lowland and statewide birds by selecting both the mockingbird and roadrunner. |
Utah | California Gull | The gull nests around the Great Salt Lake, far from roadrunner deserts. |
Conclusion
The roadrunner’s habitat range centers on the deserts of the American Southwest. Two southwestern states – New Mexico and Texas – designated the roadrunner as an official state symbol. The roadrunner beat out other great regional birds due to its strong ties to the desert, its legendary trickster personality, and its embodiment of southwestern spirit. Speedy, gutsy, and resourceful, the roadrunner reflects the essence of these rugged western states. For Arizona, California, Nevada, and other states, different species better represent statewide environments and culture. But for the Southwestern states that chose it, the roadrunner stands as an iconic symbol of regional pride.