LOOK – Greater roadrunner spotted in Denver, a rare sight in the city
Apr 23, 2026, 4:31 PM
Because my favorite cartoon character has always been Road Runner, I was really excited to learn that a real life version of that character has been hanging out in Denver, and that’s extremely rare!
A greater roadrunner was reported April 15 along South Parker Road near Fairmount Cemetery, on the border of Denver and Arapahoe counties, according to a report logged on eBird.org, a bird-distribution database managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Birder Terry Rudolph documented the sighting and uploaded a photograph to the Cornell lab’s Macaulay Library.
Greater roadrunners — members of the cuckoo family known by their scientific name Geococcyx californianus — are somewhat common across southeastern Colorado but are very rarely seen this far north.
Crystal Reser, an Audubon Denver master birder, told AccuWeather the bird was spotted in a congested part of the city near the High Line Canal, which may offer clues about how it traveled so far from its typical southwestern habitat
“My guess, he followed the greenbelt heading north from Colorado Springs to Denver,” Reser said.
The visitor may also be young. Reser said a juvenile bird could have become disoriented while searching for food or exploring new territory. No greater roadrunners have ever nested in the Denver metro area, she said.
“We are seeing more kind of unusual birds showing up in Colorado,” Reser said, noting that spring migration season can push non-native species into unexpected areas. Storms and broader weather changes can also drive birds off course.
The sighting quickly went viral, with posts gaining traction on TikTok, Instagram and the Birds of Colorado Facebook group.
Greater roadrunners can reach speeds of up to 20 mph on the ground and feed on rodents, reptiles, small mammals and insects. Their natural predators include raccoons, hawks and coyotes — though no Wile E. Coyote sightings have been reported in the area.
