Ground dwelling cuckoos ranging in length from 20 to 24 inches from the tip of its tail to the end of its beak.
Legend has it that the roadrunner got its name from running on the road alongside horse drawn carriages.
Also known as the chaparral cock this legendary bird is famous for its distinctive appearance, its ability to eat rattlesnakes and its preferences for scooting across the American deserts as seen in Warner Brothers cartoons.
Because of its lightening quickness, the roadrunner is one of the few animals that preys upon rattlesnakes.
Using its wings like a matador's cape, it snaps up a coiled rattlesnake by the tail, cracks it like a whip and repeatedly slams its head against the ground till dead. It then swallows its prey whole, but is often unable to swallow the entire length at one time. This does not stop the roadrunner from its normal routine. It will continue to meander about with the snake dangling from its mouth, consuming another inch or two as the snake slowly digests.
Although speed is its ally time is irrelevant to the roadrunner. It can do several things at once and isn't bothered with completing one thing before moving on to the next. This is partly due to its great mental agility represented by the crest on its head..
Many native cultures believe a "crest" symbolizes quick and efficient thinking capabilities. Those with this medicine have the ability to think quickly on their feet, flow with rapid change and understand the proper use of speed.
The roadrunner is a large black and white mottled ground bird. It has strong feet, a long tail and an oversized bill. It can run up to 17 miles per hour.
When the roadrunner senses danger or is traveling downhill, it flies, but it
cannot keep its large body airborne for more than a few seconds and so, it
prefers walking or running. It has a clownish gait when running or walking
and reminds us to laugh with ourselves and not take things too seriously.
The roadrunner is a vocal bird producing a variety of sounds from crows,
chuckles, clacking and coos. Roadrunner asks us to use sound to benefit
ourselves. Distract unwanted influences or say the right thing at the right time. By
listening to the roadrunner we discover the right tone to use in any
situation from a low coo to a screeching chuckle. Sound as well as speed can pierce
through a situation and change its energy. Shamans are known to use both to
shape shift realities when necessary.
Roadrunners are uniquely suited to desert environments and inhabit open,
flat or rolling terrain with scattered cover of dry brush, chaparral or other
desert scrub. When spring arrives, the male roadrunner acquires food for
himself and then offers choice morsels to a female as an inducement to mating. He
often dances around her while she begs for food, then gives her the morsel
after breeding briefly. Roadrunner teaches us the importance of honoring our
personal needs first before giving to others. Some might think of this as a
selfish act but in truth it is a balanced one. Although roadrunner has an
ulterior motive when offering the female food (that of breeding) it carries the
message of survival. Take care of yourself first and then assist others.
Because roadrunner is always thinking of ways to get what it wants it
reminds those with this medicine to use the ingenuity of their minds. If a problem
occurs "think" yourself out of it. Highly intelligent, roadrunner medicine
people have the mental capabilities to fix or change any situation.
Procrastination is not part of this medicine. Roadrunner reminds us that mental
alertness, speedy action coupled with the right use of sound always produces
harmonious outcomes.
