Hobbies And Interests
Beep! Beep! Watch out for the Roadrunner
One of the southwest's most well-known birds is the Roadrunner; the same one that stymied Wile E. Coyote in so many Looney Tunes cartoons. This "funny-looking" bird -- at least when compared to other bird species -- with a bunch of feathers on its head takes its name from its preference to "run" rather than to fly. Their long legs allow them to run at a pace of 20 miles per hour; residents often see them darting in front of road vehicles and disappearing as fast as they can into the wild.
The Brave, Bold, Bald Eagle
The bald eagle needs no introduction as an American icon. Its name, however, stems from a Middle-English word "balled," meaning "shining white." Thus, this species name stems not for being bald, but for its gleaming white head of feathers against its shiny black body. Bald eagles are known to nest in high conifers or cliffs, and believed to have only one mate throughout their entire lifespan.
Not Like Any Other Elf -- The Elf Owl
Being the tiniest of the owls, the elf owl is aptly named for its 5- to 11-inch long body. It has a circular head and big eyes, with white eyebrows and grayish-brown plumage. It inhabits hot and dry cacti deserts, woodlands or woody mountain slopes. The species loves to build nests on cacti or in old woodpecker nests, and usually lays one to five eggs in the springtime.
The Three-toed Woodpecker
One of the rarer species of the southwest, the American Three-toed Woodpecker is difficult to spot because of its shy nature. Unlike other woodpeckers that characteristically have four toes on each foot, the Three-toed Woodpecker has a name that hints at its difference. The species measures around 7.5 to 9 inches, and mainly has black and white colors. The males are distinctive because of their yellow crowns.