Greater Roadrunner

Geococcyx californianus

Beep beep! Sprints across the desert on impossibly long legs. Coyotes need not apply.

Population: ~1.4 million mature individuals globally, increasing (~0.9%/yr, 1970–2017; roughly +10% over three generations)
Habitat: Arid and semi-arid scrubland, desert grassland, and other open country with sparse vegetation (typically <50% cover); avoids dense forest; occurs from sea level to ~2,500 m elevation
Fun fact: The Greater Roadrunner is the largest cuckoo in the Americas and, rather than flying, chases down prey like lizards and rattlesnakes on foot at sustained speeds of 18–20 mph (with bursts up to 26 mph), making it one of the fastest-running flying birds in the world.
Range: Resident (non-migratory) across the southwestern United States (California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, with range recently extending eastward into Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana) and northern/central Mexico; overall range ~4.53 million km²
Diet: Omnivorous ground forager: insects, spiders, scorpions, centipedes, lizards and snakes (including young rattlesnakes, and venomous prey generally, with no ill effect), small rodents, small birds (occasionally hummingbirds), carrion, other birds' eggs, and some plant material/seeds
Size: 0.57 m
Wingspan: 0.52 m
Lifespan: 7.5 years

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