Greater Rhea
Rhea americana
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<birdfyi-bird slug="rhea-americana"></birdfyi-bird>À propos
South America's largest bird, standing up to 1.5 m tall with fluffy grey-brown plumage and long, powerful legs. Flightless, fast-running, and omnivorous—eating plants, insects, and small vertebrates. Found across open grasslands, pampas, and cerrado from Brazil to Argentina. Males incubate eggs and raise chicks alone.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Envergure | 120,9 cm | 47.6 in |
| Poids | 25250,0 g | 890.67 oz |
Identification
Plumage
Overall gray-brown plumage with loose, shaggy feathers covering the body. Black collar at base of neck in males. Females are paler. Underparts whitish; bare gray neck and head.
Habitat & Range
Open grasslands, pampas, cerrado, and agricultural fields in eastern and central South America. Prefers flat terrain with scattered shrubs. Adapts to cattle ranches and crop fields at low to mid elevations.
Répartition géographique
Widespread in eastern South American grasslands from northeastern Brazil to Argentina. Resident in the Pampas and Cerrado; does not migrate.
Diet & Feeding
Herbivore of South American pampas; eats broad-leafed plants, seeds, fruits, and opportunistically insects and small lizards.
Statut de conservation
Comportement et reproduction
Nidification
Nest type: SC. Incubation: 27-43 days.
Taille de la couvée
20-30
Son
Chant
Males produce a deep, resonant booming call. Females emit softer, lower contact calls. Courting males call loudly with a 'naaaaao' booming sound to attract multiple females.
Taxonomie
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Ordre | Rheiformes (Rheas) |
| Famille | Rheidae (Rheas) |
| Genus | Rhea |
| Espèces | Rhea americana |
Distribution
Greater Rhea has been recorded in 9 countries.
{# Distribution Map — simplified SVG world map with highlighted countries. Expects `country_codes` variable: list of ISO alpha-2 codes (e.g. ["US", "CA", "MX"]). Uses Alpine.js to toggle classes on country paths. #}countries highlighted
External Databases
Foire aux questions
What does the Greater Rhea eat?
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What does the Greater Rhea sound like?
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Similar Birds
Other species in the Rheidae family