Welcome to Postcards from New Mexico!
Two Sundays a month, I share beauty, stories, and culture from this region that has been my home since 2008.
If you think the Roadrunner only exists in cartoon world, get ready to be surprised and impressed. Roadrunners are quite real, and they happen to be the state bird of New Mexico.
The Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) with its distinctive crown and long tail is very easy to identify. I wouldn’t call myself a birder but in a second I could tell you if we just saw a roadrunner. But even though they’re found throughout New Mexico and other parts of the Southwest, it’s not all that common to spot them. When one crosses your path, it feels quite auspicious, like a lucky charm.
You’re much more likely to see roadrunners on the ground than in the air, because these birds were born to run! At top speeds of around 20 miles per hour, they move faster than most humans. That gift of speed makes them skillful predators and you might see them running around with a lizard dangling from their mouth or even a rattlesnake.
If you’re feeling up for a dramatic showdown in nature, check out this extraordinarily filmed encounter between a roadrunner and a diamondback rattlesnake:
You’ll have the best chance to spot roadrunners when you’re driving along country roads where there’s a lot of open country and grasslands – exactly the places that lizards, snakes, mice, insects and other creatures on their preferred menu hang out. Keep an eye out when you’re driving and you may be lucky enough to spot a roadrunner dashing across the road in search of its next meal. They’re not as big as you might expect – maybe this is where all that cartoon viewing distorted my ideas of roadrunners!
The bird holds great meaning for Pueblo and Hopi tribal members, honored for courage, speed, strength, and endurance. Its x-shaped footprint is a sacred symbol for Pueblo tribes, signifying protection from evil spirits.
The roadrunner plays a significant in the culture and traditions of New Mexico. You’ll see its image used by lots of local businesses, such as Roadrunner Venture Studios, Roadrunner Redimix, and even Roadrunner Cannabis. The bird turns up on a special state license plate; fees from the plate are donated in support of conservation projects.
Perhaps best of all is the commuter train from Albuquerque to Santa Fe – the Rail Runner. The cars have a big bright red and yellow roadrunner painted along their sides. Here’s my absolute favorite thing about the Rail Runner. As you head toward the doors to exit your car, make sure you listen carefully. When the doors open, you’ll hear, “meep meep” — an homage to the cartoon Roadrunner. Someone on the train design team clearly had a good sense of humor!
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Love this info. For whatever reason, this post came across at the right time. I just returned from Joshua Tree, CA, where I was working on a new album. Sitting outside on the patio, this guy came snooping around and got so close. Seemed fearless, almost like a friend. I had seen them before from a distance, briefly, so this felt pretty special.
Oops, can’t drop a photo in here. Oh well. Posted in my notes if you get curious! Cheers.
I love roadrunners! We are fortunate that we have a pair that live in our backyard yard. This year they roosted in our mimosa tree and raised one youngster. We helped a bit with the raising by wrangling it out of the fenced garden when it landed there from the tree and we also saved it from a pair of hawks till one of the parents showed up.