Roadrunner vs Rattlesnake:  The interaction between a roadrunner and a rattlesnake is one of mutual caution and respect. It is fascinating to witness.


Last week I went about 45 south of Tucson to rural Amado. The area supports the same flora and fauna that lives in my neighborhood, but sometimes it is nice to set aside time to capture images of our local inhabitants without the backdrops of my patio furniture or street asphalt. A few trips down south and I was able to photograph a roadrunner, rabbits, bugs, lizards, a few birds, and a snake. 

The roadrunner is perfectly capable of snatching this viper’s head in its beak and banging it’s body to the ground repeatedly to prepare his meal.

The snake is also capable of striking and killing the bird with its venom.

This western diamondback rattlesnake was probably too big for this roadrunner or it just wasn’t hungry enough. It ran by several times with a lizard in its mouth....presumably delivering it to it’s mate on the nest. It is that time of year. (Frankly, it could have been more than one bird. The males and females look alike.)

A word on that. It is nice to know that in at least one bird type the females aren’t relegated to looking all grey and drab. These guys have attitude! The plumage has flare—-especially the little racing stripe behind the eyes. And both sexes hunt and care for their offspring. Their movement reminds me of something prehistoric. (Reality check: not that I was there! I’ve watched Jurassic Park though, so now I know. Ha!)

I’m not “plumage shaming” the cardinals. I love the red. But when it comes to all around equal opportunity in dangers and responsibilities, the roadrunners both have it in spades. They obviously run, but they have mad fast jumping skills too. They aren’t going to win any flying contests, but they can fly. Their silhouette in flight reminds me of the mythical phoenix, but you have to be quick to catch a photo of it, as it is not the flight of the condors. It really is more of a wing assisted jump than flying as a mode of transportation.

But hey, they are faster than the rattlesnake strike!

The roadrunner came in very close to the snake, it cocked its head, looked at it, looked around, and treaded very lightly all around it, but it did not seize a death grip. 

The snake puffed and coiled, and recoiled, and did strike!...and missed.

The strike......I’m so disappointed in myself for this photo. I took pictures of the snake zoomed in and wide to include the roadrunner. I used the 600mm to stay a safe distance. The whole time the roadrunner was checking out the snake, it had its rattle going, and yet I was not prepared to capture the instantaneous strike. It was only in one frame and I didn’t think I got it at all. So, from that standpoint, I’m glad I got an evidentiary photo. But clearly at that moment I had  mistakenly zoomed in on the coiled rattling snake. It’s gaping fanged jaws nearly leaped out of the frame. Rookie mistake. 

I’m comforted in that the strike came up empty....no birds, snakes, or people were harmed during my time capturing these moments. (I cannot say the same for the lizards and bugs that day). That day the snake was still hungry, but the birds were chowing down! Even a butterfly fell victim to a sneak attack while I was trying to take its picture. I just saw feathers zip through my frame, and the insect was gone. Things happen fast in an eat or be eaten world, and once again, I’m glad to just be in observation mode.