lesser roadrunner

The lesser roadrunner (Geococcyx velox) is a terrestrial bird found in the deserts of Mexico and Central America. It is a type of cuckoo, measuring about 46 cm (18 inches) in length. This bird has streaked olive-brown and white plumage, a short crest, and stout legs. While capable of flight, it prefers to run, reaching speeds of up to 15 miles per hour, and inhabits arid regions. Its diet consists of insects, lizards, and snakes, which it kills with its bill before swallowing whole. The lesser roadrunner lays 2 to 12 white eggs in a nest typically built low in a cactus or small tree. The roadrunner is also the state bird of New Mexico.123