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{{short description|Species of bird}}
{{speciesbox
| name = Lesser roadrunner
| image = Lesser Roadrunner - Mexico S4E1497.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2020 |title=''Geococcyx velox'' |volume=2020 |article-number=e.T22684461A163883135 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22684461A163883135.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
| genus = Geococcyx
| species = velox
| authority = ([[Johann Andreas Wagner|Wagner]], 1836)
| range_map=Geococcyx Velox Map.svg
| range_map_caption=Range in green
}}

The '''lesser roadrunner''' ('''''Geococcyx velox''''') 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]]''.

== Description ==

The lesser roadrunner is a slender bird that reaches a length of 46 to 51 cm (18 in), the tail itself accounting for about {{convert|24|cm|abbr=on}}. Its average length is {{convert|46|cm|abbr=on}}.<ref name =Dunning2008>{{cite book| title = CRC handbook of avian body masses | author = Dunning, John B. Jr. | publisher = CRC Press | year = 2008 | location = Boca Raton | page = 655 | isbn = 978-1-4200-6444-5 | oclc = 144331624}}</ref> The male weighs {{convert|174|–|207|g}}, while the female weighs {{convert|162|–|192|g}}.<ref name="HBW">{{cite journal | title=Lesser Roadrunner (Geococcyx velox) | website=HBW Alive | year=2020 | doi=10.2173/bow.lesroa1.01 | url=http://www.hbw.com/species/lesser-roadrunner-geococcyx-velox | access-date=2019-09-03| last1=Soberanes-González | first1=Carlos A. | last2=Rodríguez-Flores | first2=Claudia I. | last3=Arizmendi | first3=Marîa del Coro | last4=Schulenberg | first4=Thomas S. | s2cid=216277172 | editor1-first=Thomas S | editor1-last=Schulenberg | url-access=subscription }}</ref>

The [[crown (anatomy)|crown]], [[crest (feathers)|crest]] and [[neck]] of the lesser roadrunner are black with a bronze glow and small light brown spots. The back neck is black-brown, with feathers are lined with a pale brown, so that a brown-white dashes arises. The plumage of the upper body is dark brown with light speckles and lightens to maroon towards the rump, and its breast is white. The [[Flight feather#Rectrices|rectrices]] are black with a dark purple luster.<ref name="Erritzoe">{{cite book | last=Erritzoe | first=Johannes | title=Cuckoos of the World | publisher=Christopher Helm | publication-place=London | year=2012 | isbn=978-0-7136-6034-0 | oclc=785336604 | page=133}}</ref> Young roadrunners resemble adults, but have ocher-colored lines, and duller skin around the eye.<ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/Species-Account/nb/species/lesroa1/appearance|doi = 10.2173/bow.lesroa1.01|chapter = Lesser Roadrunner (Geococcyx velox)|title = Birds of the World|year = 2020|last1 = Soberanes-González|first1 = Carlos A.|last2 = Rodríguez-Flores|first2 = Claudia I.|last3 = Arizmendi|first3 = Marîa del Coro|last4 = Schulenberg|first4 = Thomas S.|s2cid = 216277172|editor1-first = Thomas S|editor1-last = Schulenberg}}</ref>

The [[iris (anatomy)|iris]] is yellow to brown, with a yellow to silvery-white ring surrounding the pupil. The [[eye-ring|eye ring]] is pale lavender to bright blue. The area behind the eye extends to a narrow band that turns into a bright red color on the neck, which is mostly covered by feathers. The upper beak is gray, while the lower beak is bluish-gray.

The lesser roadrunner resembles the [[greater roadrunner]] (''Geococcyx californianus'') in appearance and habit but is smaller, with a less streaked throat and chest, brownish on the rump and on the outer wings and yellowish undersides.<ref name="Erritzoe"/> The lesser roadrunner also has a significantly shorter bill.

== Habitat ==
The lesser roadrunner occurs in arid [[lowland]]s of [[Mesoamerica]] up to {{convert|3,000|m}} in altitude. It inhabits [[open ground]] areas, with [[scrubland|scrub]] and thorny bushes.<ref name="Hoyo">{{cite book | title = Volume 4 Volume 4, Sandgrouse to cuckoos | author = Hoyo, Josep del., Andrew Elliott, Jordi Sargatal | publisher = Lynx Edicions | year = 1997 | location = Barcelona | isbn = 84-87334-22-9 | oclc = 41028676 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/handbookofbirdso0001unse }}</ref> They can be found in higher elevations of [[stratovolcano]]es such as [[Conchagua (volcano)|Conchagua]], [[San Miguel (volcano)|San Miguel]], [[Santa Ana (volcano)|Santa Ana]] and [[San Salvador (volcano)|San Salvador]], in semi-open areas above the treeline.<ref name="Dickey1938">{{cite book|last1=Dickey|first1=D. R.|last2=van Rossem.|first2=A. J.|title=The birds of El Salvador|year=1938|volume=23|publisher=Field Museum of Natural History|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2779758#page/234/mode/1up}}</ref> They also adapt to cultivated land such as [[Agave fourcroydes|henequen]] and [[maize|corn]] fields.<ref name="Dickey1938"/>

Its breeding range is in southwestern [[Mexico]], north into the western side of the [[Sierra Madre Occidental]] range, along with northern [[Central America]] and a [[Disjunct distribution|disjunct]] range in the northern [[Yucatán Peninsula]].<ref name="Erritzoe"/> It overlaps with the range of the greater roadrunner in a small area in the states of [[Sonora]], [[Sinaloa]], [[Jalisco]], and [[Michoacán]].<ref name="HowellWebb">{{cite book|last1=Howell|first1=Steve N. G.|last2=Webb|first2=Sophie|year=1995|title=A guide to the birds of Mexico and northern Central America|isbn=0-19-854012-4|publisher=Oxford University Press|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/guidetobirdsofme0000howe}}</ref>

== Behavior==
{{Birdsong|url=https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Geococcyx-velox|species=''Geococcyx velox''}}
The lesser roadrunner can run up to {{convert|20|mph}}. It spends most of its time on the ground, running in open areas, along roads or under cover. and is capable of limited flight, perching in bushes or low trees.<ref name="HowellWebb"/>

Roadrunners [[Sunning (behaviour)|bask]] in the early morning, on a fence post or bush.<ref name="eBird">{{cite web | title=Lesser Roadrunner | website=eBird | url=https://ebird.org/species/lesroa1 | access-date=2019-09-04}}</ref> They cock their tail and droop their wings, then turn their back towards the sun, raising the scapular feathers and exposing their black skin which absorbs heat. They may [[preening (bird)|preen]] themselves as well.

The bird's call is a series of soft "cooing", about one note per second, made three to seven times on a descending scale.<ref name="HowellWebb"/><ref>{{cite web | title=Lesser Roadrunner (Geococcyx velox) :: xeno-canto | website=xeno-canto | date=2019-03-13 | url=https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Geococcyx-velox | access-date=2019-09-03}}</ref>

=== Diet ===
The lesser roadrunner is an opportunistic feeder, which eats seeds, fruit, small [[reptiles]] and [[frogs]]. It forages around roadsides for large [[insects]] and [[roadkill]].<ref name=Hoyo/> [[Grasshopper]]s make up a significant portion part of its diet, as do [[caterpillars]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Real Roadrunner|author=Martha Anne Maxon|publisher=University of Oklahoma Press|year=2005}}</ref><ref name="HBW"/>

===Nesting ===

Breeding is reported from [[Mexico]] between April and July,<ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/Species-Account/nb/species/lesroa1/breeding|doi = 10.2173/bow.lesroa1.01|chapter = Lesser Roadrunner (Geococcyx velox)|title = Birds of the World|year = 2020|last1 = Soberanes-González|first1 = Carlos A.|last2 = Rodríguez-Flores|first2 = Claudia I.|last3 = Arizmendi|first3 = Marîa del Coro|last4 = Schulenberg|first4 = Thomas S.|s2cid = 216277172|editor1-first = Thomas S|editor1-last = Schulenberg}}</ref> and in [[El Salvador]] in August.<ref name = "Miller">{{cite journal|last=Miller|first=A.H.|year=1932|title=Observations on some breeding birds of El Salvador, Central America|journal=Condor|volume=34|issue=1|pages=8–17|doi=10.2307/1363786|jstor=1363786}}</ref><ref name="Dickey1938"/>

The lesser roadrunner builds its nest in a low tree, a thorn bush or an ''[[Opuntia]]'' cactus, about {{convert|2|m}} off the ground.<ref name="Dickey1938"/> Its eggs, which are white and {{convert|35|×|26|mm|abbr=on}} in length,<ref name="Dickey1938"/> are laid in clutches of 2 to 4.<ref name="Dickey1938"/><ref name=Hoyo/> Their nests are smaller than those of the greater roadrunner, but are stronger and more compact, built in the shape of a cup with sturdy grass stems and twigs, with a diameter of {{circa}} {{convert|14.5|cm|abbr=on}}. Both male and female roadrunners [[Egg incubation|incubate]].<ref name="Dickey1938"/>

Lesser roadrunner clutches show less variation in size than those of the greater roadrunner, and from observation, all eggs appear to hatch around the same time.<ref name = "Miller"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons-inline}}
*[http://www.birdsofhonduras.com/photos/chosen/field%20work/Lesser%20Roadrunner-1.jpg Photo-(bird running-HIGH RES)]; [https://web.archive.org/web/20071010113136/http://www.birdsofhonduras.com/field_work.html Article] "Birds of Honduras"
*[http://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Common&KEYWORDS=lesser+roadrunner&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All&ACT=All&Search=Search&VIEW=All&ORIENTATION=All&RESULTS=24 Lesser Roadrunner photo gallery] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809225015/http://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Common&KEYWORDS=lesser+roadrunner&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All&ACT=All&Search=Search&VIEW=All&ORIENTATION=All&RESULTS=24 |date=2020-08-09 }} VIREO



{{Clear}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1272222}}

[[Category:Geococcyx|lesser roadrunner]]
[[Category:Birds of Mexico]]
[[Category:Birds of the Yucatán Peninsula]]
[[Category:Birds of the Sierra Madre Occidental]]
[[Category:Birds of Central America]]
[[Category:Birds of Guatemala]]
[[Category:Birds of El Salvador]]
[[Category:Birds of Honduras]]
[[Category:Birds of Nicaragua]]
[[Category:Birds described in 1836|lesser roadrunner]]

Lesser roadrunner - Revision history

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