Roadrunners are known for their incredible speed and ability to outrun predators. Their top speed is one of their most intriguing traits. But just how fast can these lanky birds run? In this article, we’ll explore the top speed of roadrunners in miles per hour (mph).
The Roadrunner Bird
There are two species of roadrunner – the greater roadrunner and the lesser roadrunner. We’ll focus on the greater roadrunner in this article. The greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) is a large, long-tailed bird in the cuckoo family. It’s also known as the chaparral bird or chaparral cock. Roadrunners have several adaptations that allow them to run extremely fast:
- Long, strong legs
- Lightweight skeleton and small body
- Large breast muscles to power running
- Long tail for balance
In addition to speed, roadrunners are clever birds. They have strategies to outpace predators like coyotes, foxes, and hawks. When chased, they run in erratic zigzag patterns to confuse their pursuer. They can quickly dart into scrub for cover. Roadrunners are also able to spread their wings and lift themselves into short flight to escape danger when needed.
How Roadrunners Run
When running, roadrunners have a distinctive stride. They alternate pumping their long legs and arms with each stride. Their long tail streams out behind them for balance. Roadrunners run with their head and neck stretched out in front of their body in a straight line. This aerodynamic posture allows them to slice through the air efficiently.
Roadrunners can sprint at full speed and maintain their pace over a moderate distance. During the most intense sprints, they can hold their wings out slightly from their body. Their wings act like sails to provide extra momentum. But roadrunners tire quickly from all-out running. They do most of their routine hunting and foraging at a more moderate speed.
Roadrunner Top Speed
So exactly how fast can a roadrunner run flat out? Research has clocked the top speed of a roadrunner at:
- 20 miles per hour (32 km/h)
This measurement of 20 mph is an average for a roadrunner at full sprint. Speeds may vary slightly based on the individual bird’s size, age, and fitness. But 20 mph captures their incredible pace when they run all-out.
To put their speed into perspective, here’s how a roadrunner’s top pace compares:
Animal | Top Speed (mph) |
---|---|
Cheetah | 75 |
Pronghorn Antelope | 55 |
Jackrabbit | 45 |
Fox | 30 |
Bobcat | 30 |
Coyote | 43 |
Roadrunner | 20 |
So while not as fast as a cheetah or antelope, roadrunners are speedy enough to outpace many predators. No wonder coyotes have such a hard time catching them!
How They Reach Top Speed
Roadrunners build up to top speed with acceleration and momentum. It takes them between 20-25 feet to reach their full 20 mph pace. Their starting acceleration is actually slower than their top speed. But once they build momentum, they can maintain 20 mph over moderate distances while sprinting.
During intense chase scenes, roadrunners can hold top speed for somewhere between 400-800 feet. After that, they tire rapidly and have to slow down or make an evasive maneuver to throw the predator off. So their key strategy is to sprint for short bursts, then change direction or take cover to rest.
Speed in Different Gaits
Roadrunners have three main gaits – the walk, run, and sprint. Here’s how their speed changes across these gaits:
- Walk – 4 miles per hour
- Run – 10-15 miles per hour
- Sprint – 20 miles per hour
As you can see, their speed ranges widely depending on their gait and need for speed. When foraging or roaming around, roadrunners walk at an easy 4 mph. This relaxed pace allows them to hunt lizards, snakes and other prey. At their run of 10-15 mph, they can chase down smaller prey like large insects. And only with the sprint at 20 mph can they escape from hungry coyotes nipping at their tail.
Speed vs. Distance
Roadrunners are better adapted for sprinting than for endurance running. While they can briefly reach 20 mph, they lack the physiology to maintain this speed over a long trek. Here is how far a roadrunner can run at top speed vs. jogging pace:
- Sprinting (20 mph) – up to 0.25 mile
- Jogging (10 mph) – 1-2 miles
So over a short distance of 0.25 miles or less, the roadrunner can stay in its top gear of 20 mph if pressed. But they lack the endurance to keep up this tiring sprint much farther. Over longer distances, say 1-2 miles, they can settle into an easy lope around 10 mph.
Why Such Speed?
So why did evolution shape the roadrunner into such a speedy bird? Their velocity serves a few key purposes:
- Escaping predators – Outpacing hungry coyotes, foxes, and hawks
- Catching prey – Running down lizards and rodents
- Defending territory – Chasing rival roadrunners from their domain
- Courting mates – Showing off running skills to attract females
In short, speed helps the roadrunner survive. Their life in the hostile desert and scrublands makes velocity a key advantage. Interesting side note – the roadrunner’s Latin name “Geococcyx californianus” means “Californian earth-cuckoo.” This hints at their speed, since they seem to run as fast as a cuckoo could fly!
Top Speed vs. Cruising Speed
It’s important to note the roadrunner’s top speed of 20 mph is not its normal cruising speed. They only reach full velocity in short bursts when chasing prey or evading predators. Most of the time, roadrunners mosey around at a more leisurely pace to conserve energy.
In fact, scientists estimate a roadrunner’s average cruising speed while hunting is only about 5 mph. They will speed up to 10-15 mph to chase down lizards and insects. But roadrunners don’t keep up the 20 mph pace for very long.
Here is a comparison of the roadrunner’s speeds:
- Cruising Speed – 5 mph (easy walking pace)
- Hunting Speed – 10-15 mph (moderate jog)
- Top Speed – 20 mph (short sprint)
By shifting between these speeds as needed, roadrunners conserve energy while still having the capacity for rapid velocity.
Other Interesting Roadrunner Speed Facts
A few more fascinating tidbits about the roadrunner’s running ability:
- Baby roadrunners can run up to 15 mph within days of hatching – impressive for a newborn!
- Roadrunners reach adult size within 6-8 months, allowing them to attain top speed while still young.
- Their toes partially uncurl when running, exposing sharp claws used for traction.
- To aid recovery, roadrunners soak their feet in water which may provide electrolytes.
- The tail acts like a rudder to help counterbalance leaning as they round turns.
Every aspect of the roadrunner, from its frame to feet, is adapted for speed and agility. Their fitness is finely tuned by evolution.
Conclusion
The roadrunner is one of the speediest birds in North America. When sprinting flat-out, it can reach 20 miles per hour. This eclipse the speeds of potential predators like foxes and coyotes. Even the fastest humans would be hard-pressed to keep up with a roadrunner at full tilt!
But roadrunners don’t rely on their top pace constantly. More often they mosey around at 4-5 mph, conserving energy. Their speed allows them to hunt successfully in harsh deserts and scrublands. It’s also a key defense against the many threats they face. The next time you see a roadrunner darting by, keep in mind you’re seeing a champion sprinter of the bird world!