Photo: Quartl / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Lesser Rhea
Rhea pennata
Lesser Rhea (Rhea pennata) — Ratites & Tinamous of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Lesser Rhea (Rhea pennata) is a member of the Rheidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 23.9 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Rheiformes
- Family Rheidae Rheas
- Genus Rhea
- Species pennata
Quick facts
- Weight
- 23.9 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Rheidae
- Order
- Rheiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Lesser 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 Lesser Rhea is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Lesser Rhea (Rhea pennata) belongs to the Rheidae family of the order Rheiformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA Southern Cone.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 23.9 kg, with a wing length of about 62.5 cm and a tail of around 5.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 661,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Lesser Rhea?
The Lesser Rhea is a very large bird that weighs around 23.9 kg.
Where does the Lesser Rhea live?
The Lesser Rhea is found across South America with a range covering SA Southern Cone, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Lesser Rhea belong to?
The Lesser Rhea (Rhea pennata) belongs to the Rheidae family, in the order Rheiformes.
What does the Lesser Rhea eat?
The Lesser Rhea is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Lesser Rhea migrate?
The Lesser Rhea is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Lesser Rhea endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Lesser Rhea make?
1 real field recording of the Lesser Rhea — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Lesser Rhea's range?
The Lesser Rhea has a mapped global range of about 661,000 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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