Lesser roadrunner

The lesser roadrunner is a large, long-legged bird that is a member of the cuckoo family, Cuculidae. It is found in Mesoamerica. Its Latin name means "swift earth-cuckoo". Along with the greater roadrunner, it is one of two species in the genus Geococcyx.

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Distribution

Region

Mesoamerica

Typical Environment

Occurs from western and southern Mexico through parts of Central America, favoring dry to semi-arid landscapes. Typical habitats include thorn scrub, cactus-dotted savannas, open deciduous woodland, and agricultural edges with scattered shrubs. It avoids dense, closed-canopy forests and prefers areas with open ground for running and foraging. Nests are usually placed in low shrubs or cacti and it roosts off the ground to avoid predators.

Altitude Range

0–1800 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size38–46 cm

Wing Span40–50 cm

Male Weight0.2 kg

Female Weight0.18 kg

Life Expectancy7 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

A swift, ground-dwelling cuckoo, the lesser roadrunner can sprint at impressive speeds to chase down prey. It often hunts lizards, snakes, and large insects, and will also take fruit in season. Like its larger relative, it displays a crest and colorful bare skin behind the eye during courtship and territorial encounters. Its Latin name translates to “swift earth-cuckoo,” reflecting its terrestrial lifestyle.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

wary and terrestrial

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats with brief glides; prefers running

Social Behavior

Usually seen singly or in pairs, maintaining territories year-round. Pairs are monogamous during the breeding season and build platform nests of sticks in low shrubs or cacti. Clutches are typically 2–4 eggs, with both parents participating in incubation and chick-rearing.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Delivers a series of low, cooing notes that carry at dawn, interspersed with softer clucks. Also produces bill-clattering and harsh chatters during displays or alarm.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

Lesser scaup

The lesser scaup is a small North American diving duck that migrates south as far as Central America in winter. It is colloquially known as the little bluebill or broadbill because of its distinctive blue bill. The origin of the name scaup may stem from the bird's preference for feeding on scalp—the Scottish word for clams, oysters, and mussels; however, some credit it to the female's discordant scaup call as the name's source. It is apparently a very close relative of the Holarctic greater scaup or "bluebill", with which it forms a superspecies. The scientific name is derived from Ancient Greek and Latin, with aithuia being an Ancient Greek term for an unidentified seabird, used by Hesychius and Aristotle, among other authors, and affinis, Latin for "related to", from the lesser scaup's resemblance to the greater scaup.

Lesser sooty owl

The lesser sooty owl is a medium-sized masked owl endemic to the wet tropics region of Australia. Once considered a subspecies of the greater sooty owl, it is distinguished by its dark plumage, heavier spotting, and higher-pitched call. The lesser sooty owl has a limited range within northeastern Australia and primarily lives in dark, sheltered areas of the rainforest.

Lesser spotted eagle

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