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Besides those found in clocks, there are four regularly occurring cuckoo species in the mainland U.S. One of these may not be thought of as a cuckoo by beginning birders, partly because of its large size compared to the other three species, and partly because the word "cuckoo" doesn't appear in its name. Familiar in cartoon form to millions of Americans, the roadrunner (properly called the Greater Roadrunner) is in fact a cuckoo. And, like the cartoon bird, it can in fact run quite rapidly (15-20 mph) and is a rather weak flyer. It uses this speed to capture its prey, including snakes, lizards, scorpions, spiders, and even other birds. Those homeowners lucky enough to have roadrunners pay a visit to their bird feeders may witness the skilled capture of small and even medium size songbirds by this capable predator. This species is also known to enjoy pet food left outside for the family dog. Identification of this species is straightforward. A shaggy crest, very long tail, streaky brown plumage, red and blue skin behind the eye, and speedy running behavior combine to leave little doubt about its identity. Though uncommon throughout its range, it can be readily seen in the arid southwest, and also occurs (more or less) from central California east to Arkansas. - Birdzilla.com