Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)

The Greater Roadrunner

by Alice Delaney

There’s a cartoon roadrunner known to “bee-beep”,

But how much is true & what facts don’t keep?

The greater roadrunner is a sprinter, this much is true,

With speeds up to 15 miles, who knew? Who knew?

But home in the desert is not the only place

To find this silly bird with a crazy face.

Peak-a-boo in grasslands or woodlands to name a few,

Not to mention shrub lands & piney woods too!

Pestering coyotes, however, is not on the list;

They’d eat him up: a point Mr. Roadrunner would never miss.

Insects, spiders, lizards & snakes,

Small rodents and scorpions for dinner he makes!

And the roadrunner, in fact, is a very forward bird,

One would think his forwardness to be very absurd!

Though smaller in real life, this zany ground dweller,

Has proven to be one fun-to-watch feller’.