Winged Jewels

Snake Killer by Todd Wynia Via Flickr: We see the greater roadrunner a few times each year. They are about crow-sized and a pretty fierce predator. They can grab a rattlesnake behind the head and whap it against a rock to kill it before consuming it. (This bit may be gross, so feel free to stop reading) The snake too big to swallow in one go? No problem. Just leave the unswallowed bit dangle from your beak, while that part in your belly digests. Eventually, you digest the whole snake. That's pretty badass in my book. Roadrunners will take on pigeons, lizards, small mammals, you name it. They are rather opportunistic feeders and unafraid to take on whatever comes their way.

Roadrunner by moonjazz Via Flickr: This lovely bird of the southwest was busy gathering twigs to build the nest for spring chicks. The roadrunner eats anything it finds, such as scorpions, lizards, rodents, and other birds. It is one of the few birds fast enough to prey on rattlesnakes. The can run up o 18 miles per hour and fly only very short distances like 5 to 10 feet.. They are more active in the daytime. This is probably a male. In spring it does a courtship dance to attract a female.

Rubino Greater Roadrunner running 20151206 Salton Sea CA 1621-2 by Ryan Rubino Via Flickr: One of my all time favorite birds living up to its reputation.

greater roadrunner macro-crystal cove state park by gskipperii on Flickr.

On the Run by splinx1 on Flickr.

Greater Roadrunner by splinx1 on Flickr.