NM State Symbols
State Bird of New Mexico
By USGS
Sep 7, 2006, 16:30 PST

Greater Roadrunner
Geococcyx californianus

Identification Tips:

• Length: 22 inches
• Large, long-legged, long-tailed cuckoo
• Spends much of its time on the ground
• Long, thick, dark bill
• Bushy crest
• Dark head is extensively spotted
• Blue patch of bare skin includes eye and is red at its rear margin in males(??)
• Pale foreneck and upper breast with dark stripes
• Dark back and upperwing has extensive pale edgings creating striped appearance
• White bases to primaries show as a crescent on wing in flight
• Pale belly
• Long, dark tail with white tips to outer tail feathers

Similar species:

None

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.
Source: USGS

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