Anatomy: The roadrunner is about 23 inches (58 cm) long. It has a shaggy crest on its head. The tail is long and narrow; it helps the roadrunner with balance and lets it turn quickly when running. The roadrunner's wings are short and rarely used; the legs are long and make this bird a fast runner. There are four toes on each foot; two toes face forwards and two face backwards. Males and females are similar in appearance. Roadrunners make rattling and cooing calls.

Diet: Roadrunners eat fruit and small animals, including small lizards, scorpions, spiders, insects, eggs, small snakes, and some small rodents.

Reproduction: The roadrunner is a type of cuckoo, but unlike many other cuckoos, it is not a nest parasite. It builds its cup-like nest in a thorn bush or a cactus. The female lays 3 to 8 white eggs.