Byron Wright New Mexico Cooperative Extension Service Roadrunners fascinate me - not the cartoon ones, the real flesh and blood birds, two feet long from the tip of their graceless tail to their flashy crest. They strut the dry corners of my yard on long, bare legs, spearing insects and lizards with their sharp beaks, the sun glinting from their speckled black and white plumage.
Roadrunners use sophisticated technology to cope with the harsh climate.
Unlike other year-round desert residents, they remain active through both hot and cold months. By heating their bodies with solar energy, roadrunners reduce their caloric needs by as much as 40 percent. During hot late-summer days, I see the roadrunner only in the cooler morning and evening. Since birds cannot sweat, it takes to the shade during mid-day and compresses its plumage to retain less heat. They rarely fly, instead sprinting as fast as 15 miles per hour across the desert .