Bird Magic: Wisdom of the Ancient Goddess for Pagans & Wiccans - Sandra Kynes 2016
Roadrunner: Greater Roadrunner
The Profiles
Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)
The word roadrunner usually brings to mind the trials and tribulations of poor Wile E. Coyote as he was continually outwitted by one of these birds. The truth is, coyotes are a threat but roadrunners are managing to survive because they are the wily ones. In fact, roadrunners are fearless little creatures that kill and eat scorpions and snakes and even rattlesnakes. One of the biggest myths, which is not true, involves the roadrunner trapping a sleeping snake with pieces of cactus. However, it is the roadrunner’s zigzag motions and quick footwork that allows it to get close enough to grab the snake and thrash it around to disable it.
Part of the cartoon portrayal of the roadrunner that is somewhat accurate is how it leans forward almost parallel to the ground as it runs with its tail streaming behind. Using its tail for balance and as a rudder, the roadrunner can reach speeds of up to fifteen miles per hour. Although they are sometimes seen perching on fence posts or higher objects, roadrunners prefer running to flying. Because of this, the white crescent shape on its wings is rarely seen. When roadrunners fly, it is usually a ground-hugging endeavor.
The name roadrunner comes from this bird’s habit of running across and along roads. A member of the cuckoo family, its genus name, Geococcyx, means “ground cuckoo.” 139 In Mexico, roadrunners are affectionately called paisano, “fellow countryman,” and sometimes domesticated and kept around a home or a farm to get rid of mice.140 The greater roadrunner has a slightly smaller cousin, the lesser roadrunner (Geococcyx velox) that lives only in Mexico and in parts of Central America.
The roadrunner has a distinctive X-shaped footprint, which is created because two of its toes point forward and two backward. This makes it difficult to know which direction the bird was heading. The Pueblo people used the roadrunner footprint as a symbol to confuse and ward off evil.
The first time I saw a roadrunner in the wild I thought it was a scruffy, scrawny chicken. It took me a moment to figure out what it was as it scampered around my feet and looked up at me expectantly. This wily bird knew that guests at the sprawling hotel complex I was staying in could be charmed into giving it food.
Magical Workings
Sometimes it is difficult to get the comic image of roadrunner out of our minds to work with this bird seriously; however, if you can do this you will find a powerful little ally. It reveals the importance of adaptability and can be a guide when quick-witted decisions must be made. Roadrunner can also aid in discerning the right opportunities to grasp when they come your way. Call on roadrunner for spells or charms that bolster courage. Place an image of roadrunner on your esbat altar; with a hidden crescent shape on its wings, its special energy can enhance your ritual.
Make Connection
To connect with roadrunner energy, use its X-shaped footprint, which is also a symbol of the Goddess’s life-giving aspect. Draw an X on a number of index cards or small pieces of paper. Place a picture of roadrunner on your altar and light a brown candle. In front of your altar, lay out the cards in a circle that is large enough for you to sit inside. Gaze at the picture of roadrunner for a few minutes, and then close your eyes. Visualize the bird running in a circle around you. It’s okay to giggle if you think you hear a soft “beep beep” sound; however, a faint swishing noise or breeze will confirm roadrunner’s presence.
Association
Element: Earth
Bird Identification
Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)
Also known as: Chaparral cock
Size: 20 to 24 inches
Wingspan: 19 inches
Comparative size: Red-tailed hawk
Description: Pheasant-like with a long, straight tail; bushy blue-black crest; dark streaking on upperparts, wings, and chest; buff underparts; short, rounded wings
Male: Patch of blue and red skin on sides of head near eyes
Range: From California throughout the Southwest to Kansas, and south through most of Mexico
Habitat: Grasslands, desert, brushy chaparral, open woodland, and suburban areas
Eggs: Chalky white sometimes stained with brown or gray
Collective noun(s): A marathon of roadrunners
139. Wells, 100 Birds and How They Got Their Names, 211.
140. Robert Hendrickson, The Facts on File Dictionary of American Regionalisms: Local Expressions from Coast to Coast (New York: Facts on File, 2000), 532.