Greater Roadrunner – King Ranch, TX

We watched this Greater Roadrunner move across the fields of King Ranch in South Texas, one of the most historic ranches in North America. Founded in 1853 by Captain Richard King, King Ranch grew into an empire covering more than 800,000 acres and became famous for cattle ranching, Quarter Horses, and wildlife conservation. The Greater Roadrunner fit perfectly into this open Texas landscape, using its long tail for balance while hunting insects, lizards, and even small snakes. A cool fact about this species is that it can reach speeds of nearly 20 miles per hour on the ground, making it one of the fastest running birds in North America. Encounters like this reminded us why South Texas remained one of the great destinations for birders exploring the diverse habitats featured through global birding experiences with 10000 Bird Tours.