The Greater roadrunner

A bird born to run, the Greater Roadrunner can outrace a human, kill a rattlesnake, and thrive in the harsh landscapes of the Desert Southwest. Roadrunners reach two feet from sturdy bill to white tail tip, with a bushy blue-black crest and mottled plumage that blends well with dusty shrubs. As they run, they hold their lean frames nearly parallel to the ground and rudder with their long tails.

They are very shy of humans and the closest I could get was 25 metres. It was impossible to creep up closer. If I took one very slow step forward, he would move a further 2 metres away from me. The photo was taken with a short standard lens here in Albuquerque, about 100 metres from my friend's home.

The Road Runner is the official state bird of New Mexico.