The Roadrunner

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The lifestyle of the roadrunner is vividly captured in this unique book, featuring Wyman Meinzer's photographs and personal observations of several roadrunner families. He documents their daily routines, including courtship, nesting, and feeding their young. In one striking scene, a roadrunner circles a snake, testing its quickness. When the snake strikes, the bird swiftly leaps back and then forward, seizing the rattler by the head and tossing it into the air. After a fierce struggle, the roadrunner kills the snake by repeatedly beating it on the ground before taking it back to feed its fledglings. This method is consistent for all reptiles, including horned lizards and nonvenomous snakes. Meinzer also describes the nurturing behaviors of the roadrunners. After the young hatch, the female stays close to shelter them while the male tirelessly hunts for grubs and insects. When the female needs a break, the male takes over, allowing her to preen in the sun before she ventures into the mesquite thickets to return with food. This intimate portrayal of their lives highlights the dedication and resourcefulness of these remarkable birds.