17th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Greater Roadrunner with His Trophy

After looking all winter for a scare Greater Roadrunner in Fresno county, I finally got my chance. I kept hearing what sounded like the whining of a dog coming off from the distance when I realized it was a male Roadrunner calling. When I finally found him he was carrying a lizard in his beak and cooing in search of a mate. His offering never found him a lady nearby but over the next several hours I was able to get some shots of him through branches, perched in the middle of a large dead bush. I set up and captured the angle I was looking for with his bold eye showing prominantly and helpless prey in his grasp.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 03.2019
Date Uploaded: 11.2019
Photo Location: Fresno, California, United States of America
Camera: DC-G9
Copyright: © Jeremy Neipp