Greater Rhea
Rhea americana
The Greater Rhea (Rhea americana) is a uncommon rhea found in 8 countries, weighing about 23.0 kg. The greater rhea is a species of flightless bird native to eastern South America.
About the Greater Rhea
The greater rhea is a species of flightless bird native to eastern South America. Other names for the greater rhea include the grey, common, or American rhea; ema (Portuguese); or ñandú. It is the largest bird of South America. One of two species in the genus Rhea, in the family Rheidae, it inhabits a variety of open areas, such as grasslands, savanna or grassy wetlands. Weighing 20–27 kilograms (44–60 lb), the greater rhea is the largest native bird in the Americas. In the wild, the greater rhea has a life expectancy of 10.5 years. It is also notable for its reproductive habits, and for the fact that a population has established itself in Northern Germany in the 2000s and 2010s. The…
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The adults have an average weight of 20–27 kg (44–60 lb) and often measure 127 to 140 cm (50 to 55 in) long from beak to tail; they usually stand about 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) tall, with a typical range of 1.4 to 1.7 m (4 ft 7 in to 5 ft 7 in), to the top of the head. The males are generally bigger than the females.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Belgium, United Kingdom.
When to see it
The Greater Rhea can be seen all year round, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Greater Rhea?
- The adults have an average weight of 20–27 kg (44–60 lb) and often measure 127 to 140 cm (50 to 55 in) long from beak to tail; they usually stand about 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) tall, with a typical range of 1.4 to 1.7 m (4 ft 7 in to 5 ft 7 in), to the top of the head. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Greater Rhea?
- The Greater Rhea is a huge sized bird weighing about 23.0 kg.
- Where can you see a Greater Rhea?
- The Greater Rhea occurs in 8 countries, including Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia and Paraguay.
- What birds look similar to a Greater Rhea?
- The Greater Rhea is most easily confused with the Lesser Rhea.
- Is the Greater Rhea endangered?
- The Greater Rhea is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Greater Rhea for real
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