Greater roadrunner of New Mexico. Greater roadrunner The greater roadrunner ("Geococcyx californianus") is a long-legged bird in the cuckoo family, Cuculidae, from Southwestern United States and Mexico. The Latin name means "Californian earth-cuckoo". Along with the lesser roadrunner, it is one of two species in the roadrunner genus "Geococcyx". This roadrunner is also known as the chaparral cock, ground cuckoo, and snake killer. The roadrunner is about long, has a wingspan and weighs . It stands around tall and is the largest cuckoo of the Americas. Roadrunners have four toes on each zygodactyl foot; two face forward, and two face backward. The
Plaintive cuckoo farmland, parks and gardens. It feeds on invertebrates. It is normally solitary and is often difficult to see. It is a brood parasite, laying its eggs in the nests of cisticolas, prinias and tailorbirds. The eggs are similar to those of the host species but are larger. Small birds often mob the cuckoo to drive it away from their nests. Plaintive cuckoo The plaintive cuckoo ("Cacomantis merulinus") is a species of bird belonging to the genus "Cacomantis" in the cuckoo family Cuculidae. It is native to Asia, from India and China to Indonesia. It is a fairly small cuckoo, 21-23.5