I went on my first solo trip last year, and it was a birding trip to Tucson, Arizona. It was planned relatively short-notice, as I was on a bit of a crunch to catch the last of the summer season by the time I decided to go.
I had a list of birds I was hoping to see, and on the top of that list was the greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus). We have these in California and some have even been spotted in my area, but I have never had the pleasure of spotting one in my home state...which is why I was very pleased and excited to spot one my second day at the Sweetwater Wetlands Park in Tucson.
I didn't get many photos, so I will only be sharing three of this encounter. Despite the name, I didn't see this bird racing across the road, but instead slowly stepping across the footpath ahead of me. I was impressed with the long tail and the overall size of the bird.
The red and blue skin behind the eyes was very striking in person and something I had not really noticed in photos before, but is now the first thing I notice every time I see a photo or video. According to the Birds of the World article on the greater roadrunner, the coloration can be an unreliable way of distinguishing sex, with males having a white central area between the blue and reddish colors (the red described as "chrome orange"), and females having a light to medium-blue color in the center. Of course, the article notes that "variation exists," and like many species the juveniles and first-winter males resemble females.
My first full day of birding yielded a couple more lifers for me, but the roadrunner was undoubtedly my favorite. I am looking forward to seeing more of these very cool birds in the future (hopefully this year).