The road runner bird is a funny looking bird that got its claim to fame when the Looney Tunes character, the Road Runner, took the stage.
What does a road runner bird look like?
A road runner bird is a larger bird that has short stubby legs, a large bill and feathers on top of its head that make it look like it always has bed head. The road runner bird has a very long tail and has four toes on each foot with two toes in the back and two in the front.
The road runner bird loves to run. It can fly and will fly if it senses danger that it can’t escape by running, but the road runner can’t stay in the air for long.
The road runner bird likes the heat
The road runner bird is a sun baby and likes to be in places that are warm and dry. The road runner bird can be found in the Southwestern part of the United States. In fact, it’s such a common fixture in the southwest that New Mexico has made the road runner bird its official bird!
Now, we all know that living in desert area requires the things living in that area to take in a lot of water. While the road runner bird does not have water storage like a camel, it has a unique way of conserving its water. Water is an important part of digestion and is usually excreted. However, to maintain the road runner bird’s hydration, the water that is used in digestion is absorbed before the road runner bird gets rid of its excretion.
The road runner bird also uses its nasal gland to get rid of excess salt. Other animals get rid of salt through urine, but the road runner bird gets rid of salt through its nasal gland. This prevents salt from sucking up hydration of the road runner bird.
Road runner birds are quick
The road runner bird is one fast animal! The road runner bird, which is also referred to as the chaparral cock, can run up to 17 miles an hour. While most birds prefer to spend their time in the air, the road runner bird likes to hang out on the ground and because it’s fast, it can escape predators without flying. The road runner bird runs so fast that it can actually catch and eat rattle snakes.
