Greater Rhea

Scientific Name: Rhea americana

Order: Rheiformes

Family: Rheidae

Conservation Status

About

Greater Rheas are large, flightless birds native to South America. Although they cannot fly, they use their long, powerful legs to move quickly and escape danger. Males are often solitary during their spring mating season, but rheas become quite social in the winter months, flocking together and even joining groups of other species to make mixed herds.

Find me at EPZ

Location: In the enclosure north of the chickens

Arrived at EPZ: December 2020

Habitat & Range
Rhea enjoy low-lying grasslands with tall vegetation, although they can also be found in warmer, desert-like climates. They are native to South America, specifically the central to southern countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Identification
Rhea are often confused with similar large flightless birds, such as ostriches and emu. Rhea are actually much smaller, weighing between 33 and 66 pounds, and reaching heights of 5 feet. Rhea have three toes on each foot while ostriches have two.
Diet
Rhea are opportunistic feeders; they enjoy plants, fruits and seed, but they'll also eat insects, lizards, birds and other small game.
Reproduction & Lifespan
Male rhea tend to nests, incubating the eggs and caring for the young after they hatch. They will take on numerous mates and use only one nest, so a single nest may contain clutches of eggs from upwards of 7 different females.
Fantastic Fact
Although they can't use them to fly, rhea have large, long wings. They use them to keep their balance while running, and fan them out for effect in courtship displays.

Greater Rhea

Conservation Status

About

Find me at EPZ

Habitat & Range

Identification

Diet

Reproduction & Lifespan

Fantastic Fact