If you spend any time driving the backroads of Atoka County, you’ve likely seen a shaggy-crested bird zip across the red dirt with a lizard in its beak.
According to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC), the Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) is one of the state's most fascinating birds, sporting a prehistoric flair that makes it unmistakable among Oklahoma’s avian residents.
Despite their cartoon reputation, these birds are highly intelligent and curious. The ODWC notes that they are actually members of the Cuckoo family and are famous for their 'comical antics,' often tilting their heads and shaking their tails side-to-side while observing human activity.
PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news.
Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today!
