Birdland – Beep, Beep!

The Greater Roadrunner, celebrated in folklore and in cartoons, is by far the most famous bird in the southwest. Roadrunners are the official state bird of New Mexico, where this bird was photographed. They are known for their long tails (not shown here) and expressive faces. They very rarely fly, preferring to walk and run along the ground at speeds up to 15 miles per hour, chasing lizards, mice, snakes, centipedes and tarantulas. This Greater Roadrunner was photographed in the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge by Park Hill resident Mark Silverstein.