rheas

Rheas are large, flightless birds native to South America. They belong to the order Rheiformes and the family Rheidae and are placed in the genus Rhea, which comprises two living species: the greater rhea (Rhea americana) and the lesser rhea or Darwin's rhea (Rhea pennata). They inhabit open country such as grasslands, savannas, and light shrubland, avoiding dense forests and high mountains in most areas. They are well adapted to running, with long legs and a compact body, and can reach speeds of up to around 50 kilometers per hour.

Rheas are omnivorous, feeding on a mix of seeds, fruit, leaves, flowers, insects, and small vertebrates. They typically forage on the ground and form small groups outside the breeding season. For reproduction, females often lay eggs in a shared nest, which is incubated and brooded by a dominant male. The male will defend the nest and care for the hatched chicks, while females may move on to mate with other males. The incubation period lasts several weeks, and chicks are precocial, leaving the nest soon after hatching.

Conservation and status: The two species occupy different parts of South America and face threats from habitat loss, hunting, and fragmentation. Some regional populations are declining, and both species are the subject of regional conservation measures and protected areas in several countries.