Photo: Germano Roberto Schüür / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Greater Rhea
Rhea americana
Greater Rhea (Rhea americana) — Ratites & Tinamous of South America.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Greater Rhea (Rhea americana) is a member of the Rheidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 23 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Rheiformes
- Family Rheidae Rheas
- Genus Rhea
- Species americana
Quick facts
- Weight
- 23 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Rheidae
- Order
- Rheiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Greater Rhea is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Greater Rhea is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Greater Rhea (Rhea americana) is a species of bird in the Rheidae family, part of the order Rheiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA se.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 23 kg, with a wing length of about 60.5 cm and a tail of around 6.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 6.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Greater Rhea?
The Greater Rhea is a very large bird that weighs around 23 kg.
Where does the Greater Rhea live?
The Greater Rhea is found across South America with a range covering SA se, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Greater Rhea belong to?
The Greater Rhea (Rhea americana) belongs to the Rheidae family, in the order Rheiformes.
What does the Greater Rhea eat?
The Greater Rhea is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Greater Rhea migrate?
The Greater Rhea is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Greater Rhea endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Greater Rhea make?
4 real field recordings of the Greater Rhea — including its song, call and alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, each credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Greater Rhea's range?
The Greater Rhea has a mapped global range of about 6.5 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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