What is the state bird of New Mexico?

The roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus) was designated the official state bird of New Mexico in 1949. New Mexico also adopted a cartoon roadrunner as the official state litter-control mascot. The roadrunner is 52-62 cm (20-24 in.) long, has a 43-61 cm (17-24 inch) wingspan and weighs 222-538 gr, (7,8-19 oz.). It stands 25-30 cm (9.8-11.8 in.).

Also called the chaparral bird, el correcaminos, and el paisano, the iconic roadrunner inhabits desert and shrubby country in the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. Although a roadrunner is capable of flight, it spends most of the time on the ground, running at speeds of 15 miles per hour (or more) to catch its prey (insects, small reptiles, rodents, tarantulas, scorpions and small birds).

The Hopi and Pueblo Indian tribes believed that the roadrunner were medicine birds and provided protection from evil spirits. There unusual X shaped foot prints are used as sacred symbols to ward off evil spirits in the Hopi and Pueblo tribes particularly because they invoke the protective power of the roadrunners themselve. The x shape of the tracks conceals which direction the bird is headed (thus throwing malignant spirtes off track).