[Length 23 in. Wingspan 22 in.]

No bird symbolizes the American southwest more than the Greater Roadrunner. Although they don't go "BEEP BEEP" like the cartoon, Roadrunners do run very fast, and can chase down swift prey such as lizards with ease. They seem to prefer to walk or run, and, when they do fly, is usually close to the ground for a short distance. Roadrunners are inquisitive and will often come quite close in areas where humans are common, such as campgrounds. However, they will usually quickly walk or run away if they are directly approached. This Greater Roadrunner was photographed in late afternoon light along the Apache Trail in the foothills east of Phoenix, Arizona. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 64 film. (Date: September 1979)

[Length 23 in. Wingspan 22 in.]

This Greater Roadrunner was photographed near Corpus Christi, Texas. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Ektachrome 200 film. (Date: April 1981)

[Length 23 in. Wingspan 22 in.]

This Greater Roadrunner was photographed near Falcon Dam, Texas. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: January 1989)

[Length 23 in. Wingspan 22 in.]

This Greater Roadrunner was photographed at Florey Park, Andrews, TX. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens (EFL=450mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: September 4, 2008)

[Length 10 in. Wingspan 17 in.]

This American Robin was photographed at Brigantine NWR, New Jersey. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm ED f4.5 lens on Kodachrome 200 film. (Date: May 1990)

[Length 10 in. Wingspan 17 in.]

The return of the American Robin to residential lawns each year is the universal symbol of the coming of spring. The "American" Robin was named by the early colonists because its "red" breast reminded them of the European Robin, a common bird of their homelands. Although both birds are thrushes (in the family Turdidae), the American Robin is twice the size of its European namesake and more closely related to European thrushes such as the Fieldfare. American Robins have one of the largest breeding ranges of any bird in North America, ranging over virtually all of the US, Alaska, and Canada (except the far arctic reaches of Canada such as Baffin and Ellsmere Islands and the north slope of Alaska). This one was photographed in the foothills of southern Colorado. Photo taken with a Nikkor 300mm f4.5 ED lens on Ektachrome 400 film pushed to 800. (Date: June 1986)

[Length 10 in. Wingspan 17 in.]

This male American Robin was photographed at the old Andrews cemetery, Andrews, TX. Photo taken with a Nikkor 70-200mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens + Nikkor TC14E II 1.4x Teleconverter (EFL=420mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: November 12, 2007)

[Length 10 in. Wingspan 17 in.]

This immature American Robin was photographed at the old Andrews cemetery, Andrews, TX. Photo taken with a Nikkor 70-200mm EDAF-S VR f2.8 lens + Nikkor TC14E II 1.4x Teleconverter (EFL=420mm) on a Nikon D200 camera. (Date: November 12, 2007)