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Revision as of 10:39, 27 March 2015
Alternative Names: Gray Rhea, Common Rhea, American Rhea.
- Rhea americana
Identification
Length: 129 cm (51 in). Weight: Wt. 25 kg (55 lbs)
The Greater Rhea is not only the largest species of Rhea but the largest American bird.
Similar Species
The Greater Rhea has many similarities to the Ostrich but it is about half the height at 1.5 metres and it has a feathered rather than a bare neck.
Since the Rhea is found only in South America, there will be no confusion with the African Ostrich.
Distribution
South America: found in Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Five subspecies are recognized[1]:
- R. a. americana - Campos of n and e Brazil
- R. a. intermedia - Extreme se Brazil and Uruguay
- R. a. nobilis - E Paraguay
- R. a. araneipes - Chaco of Paraguay to Bolivia and Mato Grosso in Brazil
- R. a. albescens - Plains of Argentina south to Rio Negro
Habitat
Grassland, savanna, scrub forest, chaparral, and even desert, but prefers areas with at least some tall vegetation.
Behaviour
Due to their remarkable immune system injured birds heal swiftly with little intervention.
Diet
They are omnivorous but their main diet is plant based, including seeds, roots, leaves and fruit, supplemented with insects.
Breeding
During breeding season (which ranges from August to January in South America, April to August in North America), it stays near water. Males are highly territorial.
Status
Classified as Near Threatened, rheas are hunted for food and are regarded as a pest by some farmers. They are also killed for their feathers which are used in feather dusters sold mainly in Japan and the USA.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Avibase
- Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved August 2014)
- Statemaster
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Greater Rhea. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Greater_Rhea
