Ground Birds - V

Closer to home, the Roadrunner is a wonderfully personable ground bird. One or more come exploring our property every day or so. They take a few steps, stop, and then raise their crown and tail. Then a few more steps and ..... The other ground birds don't seem to mind the roadrunner until Spring. In Spring the Quail start laying eggs -- a nice delicacy for the Roadrunner. Quail often fuss with each other; i.e. they don't always get along, like to chase one another. But in the Spring it is different. Quail become "team mates" in the protection of their eggs and young chicks. If an injured bird is hobbling around, a Roadrunner will sooner or later find it, kill it -- usually by thrashing it on the ground, and then pluck and eat. The second and third photos are of a Roadrunner that has caught an injured Gila Woodpecker. Roadrunners also go after lizards with amazing speed and agility. Hard to believe the awkward looking Roadrunner could catch a lizard, but I have seen it. All photos today from The Azure Gate.