Lesser Rhea

À propos

Smaller than the Greater Rhea, with pale grey-brown plumage speckled with white spots on wings and back. Flightless, gregarious, and fast-running. Feeds on broad-leaved plants, roots, and small animals. Males are polyandrous, building communal nests and tending multiple broods simultaneously.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Envergure	125,9 cm	49.6 in
Poids	21925,0 g	773.38 oz

Identification

Plumage

Brown-gray body feathers with conspicuous white spots on wing coverts and back. Neck pale and thinly feathered. Underparts whitish. Paler overall than Greater Rhea with distinctive spotted pattern.

Habitat & Range

Puna grasslands and Andean high-altitude plains at 3,500–5,000 m, Patagonian steppe, and southern South American semi-desert. Tolerates cold wind-exposed conditions. Makes seasonal movements to lower altitudes in winter.

🌿 Wetland 🌾 Grassland

Répartition géographique

Found in Andean highlands and Patagonian steppes from southern Peru and Bolivia through Argentina to Tierra del Fuego. Year-round resident.

Diet & Feeding

Grazes Andean plateau grasses, shrub leaves, seeds, and cacti; supplements with beetles and small lizards in puna and Patagonian steppe.

Statut de conservation

Least Concern

IUCN Red List

Comportement et reproduction

Nidification

Nest type: SC. Incubation: 30-44 days.

Son

Chant

Males produce a similar booming 'naaaaao' call to Greater Rhea but somewhat softer. Females respond with lower contact calls. Vocalizations primarily function in mate attraction.

Taxonomie

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Ordre	Rheiformes (Rheas)
Famille	Rheidae (Rheas)
Genus	Rhea
Espèces	Rhea pennata

Distribution

Lesser Rhea has been recorded in 3 countries.

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Présent Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇳🇴 Norway 🇺🇦 Ukraine 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

External Databases

Foire aux questions

What does the Lesser Rhea eat?

Grazes Andean plateau grasses, shrub leaves, seeds, and cacti; supplements with beetles and small lizards in puna and Patagonian steppe.

Where does the Lesser Rhea live?

Puna grasslands and Andean high-altitude plains at 3,500–5,000 m, Patagonian steppe, and southern South American semi-desert. Tolerates cold wind-exposed conditions. Makes seasonal movements to lower altitudes in winter.

Is the Lesser Rhea endangered?

The Lesser Rhea has a conservation status of Least Concern.

How does the Lesser Rhea nest?

Nest type: SC. Incubation: 30-44 days.

What does the Lesser Rhea sound like?

Males produce a similar booming 'naaaaao' call to Greater Rhea but somewhat softer. Females respond with lower contact calls. Vocalizations primarily function in mate attraction.

How big is the Lesser Rhea?

The Lesser Rhea has a wingspan of 125.9 cm, weight of 21925.0 g.

What order and family does the Lesser Rhea belong to?

The Lesser Rhea (Rhea pennata) belongs to the order Rheiformes and the family Rheidae.