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
The Cuckoo (song) five verses starting with a "Come all ye" warning about courting sailors and with the cuckoo appearing in the second verse. The Roud Folk Song Index lists about 149 collected or recorded versions performed by traditional singers - 49 from England, 4 from Scotland, 2 from Ireland, 4 from Canada and 88 from the USA. At least one collected version was published in the "Folk Songs from the Kentucky Mountains" (1917). The first recording was made by Kelly Harrell for Victor in 1926. Notable artists who have recorded "The Cuckoo" include: The Cuckoo (song) "The Cuckoo" (Roud 413) is a