They are called roadrunners because in the days of horse-drawn carriages they had the habit of running alongside on the road. They normally run at about 15 mph, nowhere near as fast as the cartoon roadrunner. They run to catch their prey and also to escape predators. They fly well, but prefer to run. They are shy and spend most of their time on the ground.
Roadrunners build their nests low in trees or in shrubs.
Found in partly arid or dry open places where there are scattered pinyons, junipers, cactuses and rocks to provide cover, during the extreme heat of the day, they will seek shade and be more active during cooler times. They prey on insects, lizards, gophers, mice, bird eggs, young, scorpions, and small snakes. Fruit and seeds are also a part of their diet. Not a quiet bird, the roadrunner crows and chuckles. It rolls its mandibles together, producing a clacking sound.