Geococcyx Californianus or Greater Roadrunner Skull measures 3.7 in. Greater Roadrunner Skull is museum quality polyurethane cast. Made in USA. 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw).
Geococcyx Californianus or Greater Roadrunner Bird is a long-legged bird in the cuckoo family, Cuculidae, from the Southwestern United States and Mexico.
The upper body is mostly brown with black streaks and sometimes pink spots. The neck and upper breast are white or pale brown with dark brown streaks, and the belly is white.
A crest of brown feathers sticks up on the head, and a bare patch of orange and blue skin lies behind each eye; the blue is replaced by white in adult males and the orange is often hidden by feathers.
The vocalizations of the Geococcyx Californianus or greater roadrunner have seven distinct variants. The most frequent call is a slow and descending sequence of about six low, cooing noises, emitted by the male and which is heard 820 feet away. This call is usually made early in the morning, from a high perch such as a fence post, dead tree or cactus.
Geococcyx Californianus females give off a number of up to twenty-two short, low-frequency shrills, resembling coyote squeals, which can be heard 1,000 feet away.
Until a mate is found, the greater roadrunner typically lives a solitary life. The Geococcyx Californianus is monogamous, forming long-term pair bonds. Greater roadrunner couples defend a territory of about 7,500 to 8,600 sq ft.
The male is more territorial, calling out to warn competitors, and does not hesitate to physically push the intruders out of his territory. Some couples defend the same territory all year long.
Nest building starts in March in Texas, and probably later further north. Both birds build the nest, with the male collecting the material and the female constructing the nest.
The nests are compact platforms of thorny branches lined with grasses, feathers, snakeskin, roots, and other fine material. They are built low in a cactus or a bush.
Greater roadrunners lay three to six eggs, which hatch in 20 days. The chicks fledge in another 18 days. Pairs may occasionally rear a second brood when there is an abundance of food in rainy summers.
Similarly to some other cuckoos, Geococcyx Californianus occasionally lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, such as the common raven and northern mockingbird.
