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Lesser Rhea - BirdForum Opus

Revision as of 17:06, 27 June 2008 by AlexC (talk | contribs)
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a.k.a. Darwin's Rhea

Rhea pennata
Photo by Peter Bono
Photographed near Punta Arenas, Chile, in February 2003.

Identification

90cm. Plumage greyish-brown flecked with white.

Distribution

Peru, Bolivia, northern Chile and north-western Argentina

Taxonomy

Nominate race is found in southern Argentina and southern Chile, northern birds are placed in tarapacensis (Puna Rhea) in northern Chile and garleppi in remainder of range. Some authorities place this species in the genus Pterocnemia.

Pterocnemia vs. Rhea

Howard & Moore (2003) list pennata under the genus Pterocnemia; however, Sibley & Monroe (1996) and Clements 6th edition (2007) both have merged Pterocnemia into the genus Rhea, and the SACC proposal to do so on their own list is currently pending. Opus consensus is to categorize pennata under Rhea.

Habitat

Upland scrubland.

Behaviour

External Links

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