Roadrunners - known for strutting around Arizona deserts and inspiring wacky cartoons - have much in common with another animal species: human beings.
The shared traits are the topic of a free Monday presentation titled "The Roadrunner: Almost Human." It is sponsored by the Tucson Audubon Society.
"Their behavior seems amazingly human-like at times," says Jim Cornett, a consulting ecologist and author whose extensive research led to his popular book "The Roadrunner."
"I tell people that roadrunners are the most comfortable avian species in America in terms of being around people," Cornett says.
His talk and photo show will focus on the many ways that roadrunners, members of the cuckoo family, are like people - some of whom can be a little cuckoo as well.
IF YOU GO
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• What: Presentation called "The Roadrunner: Almost Human"
• When: 7 p.m. Monday
• Where: Amethyst Room at Pima Community College downtown campus, 1255 N. Stone Ave.
• Cost: Free and open to public
Talking points
Here are some key points from Jim Cornett's presentation.
Feel free to make a "beep-beep" sound from time to time.
ETERNAL HEARTTHROBS
"Roadrunners mate for life, and humans at least intend to do that," Cornett says. "Roadrunners don't get divorces. They stay as a pair until one or the other expires. Then they will find another mate."
THE DATING GAME
If a male roadrunner wants to mate with a female, he must bring the right gift.
Sound familiar?
"If this trait isn't human, I don't know what is," Cornett says. "The gift has to be something akin to a diamond. If the male just brings the female nesting material, that's not good enough. He has to bring her a lizard, a snake or a small rodent to eat. That's the diamond."
NOT SO FAST
"When the female sees the right gift, she will immediately breed with the male," Cornett says. But the male doesn't hand over the gift until, well. "He holds the gift in his bill as they mate. Then the female grabs it from his bill and eats it."
CHOW CHOICES
Roadrunners are predators - catching and consuming everything from insects to lizards, rodents and even rattlesnakes.
But they don't dine exclusively on animal food sources.
"They are true omnivores just like many people," says Cornett. "They eat seeds and plant foods in addition to preying on animals."
FEATHERED FRIENDS
"Roadrunners and humans make remarkable friends," Cornett says. "They seem to like being around us."
Like some people, they might have motives.
"We're big, and as we walk through the desert we scare up a lot of insects for them to eat," Cornett said. "A roadrunner once followed me for about four hours as I scared up insects."
SOUNDING OFF
"Humans probably make the greatest array of sounds of any species, but roadrunners also make a surprising array," Cornett says.
The sounds include cooing, grunting and a sort of clattering sound.
Beep-beep?
Not so much.
"In the cartoons, the roadrunner makes a sound like a honking horn," Cornett says. "In actuality, roadrunners have a much greater array of vocalization than that."
Contact reporter Doug Kreutz at dkreutz@azstarnet.com or at 573-4192.
