Do roadrunners fly?

Roadrunners can fly, but they prefer to run as their long legs and lean frames are built for this activity. Roadrunners, or Geococcyx, can reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour when they run.

Sometimes the roadrunner may fly in order to escape its predators, and when the bird flies, it reveals wings that are short and rounded and not very adept at flying. The roadrunner ranges in size from 18 to 22 inches from its tail to its beak, and it weighs between 8 to 15 ounces. These birds can generally be found in the deserts of the Southwest United States, in Mexico and in Central America.