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Greater Rhea

Rhea americana

Near Threatened
Envergadura
120,9 cm
Peso
25250,0 g
Família
Rheidae
Ordem
Rheiformes

Sobre

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
Envergadura 120,9 cm 47.6 in
Peso 25250,0 g 890.67 oz

Identificação

Plumagem

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.

Distribuição geográfica

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.

Estado de conservação

Near Threatened
IUCN Red List

Comportamento e reprodução

Nidificação

Nest type: SC. Incubation: 27-43 days.

Tamanho da postura

20-30

Som

Canto

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.

Taxonomia

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Ordem Rheiformes (Rheas)
Família Rheidae (Rheas)
Genus Rhea
Espécies Rhea americana

Distribution

Greater Rhea has been recorded in 9 countries.

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Presente Not recorded
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countries highlighted

External Databases

Perguntas frequentes

What does the Greater Rhea eat?
Herbivore of South American pampas; eats broad-leafed plants, seeds, fruits, and opportunistically insects and small lizards.
Where does the Greater Rhea live?
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.
Is the Greater Rhea endangered?
The Greater Rhea has a conservation status of Near Threatened.
How does the Greater Rhea nest?
Nest type: SC. Incubation: 27-43 days.
What does the Greater Rhea sound like?
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.
How big is the Greater Rhea?
The Greater Rhea has a wingspan of 120.9 cm, weight of 25250.0 g.
What order and family does the Greater Rhea belong to?
The Greater Rhea (Rhea americana) belongs to the order Rheiformes and the family Rheidae.

Similar Birds

Other species in the Rheidae family

Comparar

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