Rhea

Description

The rhea is the largest bird in South America. Its plumage is a greyish brown, with darker patches on the neck and upper back, and with whitish feathers on the thigh and abdomen. The females are smaller than the males and their plumage is light grey all over. The legs are grey with three toes facing forward, which they use to defend themselves. 

Behaviour

Outside the mating season, they live in mixed flocks of up to 30 individuals, although the elder males tend to be solitary. When the mating season arrives, the breeder females separate into small groups and the males become territorial and try to court a group of females. The male builds a nest in which the females lay gold coloured eggs. The male incubates them and help to look after the chicks. 

Interesting facts

Their populations have dropped due to hunting for their meat, eggs and skins, as well as their feathers, which are used to make feather dusters. Over the latest years, habitat loss has also begun to threaten them as the wide rangelands have been transformed into farming and livestock areas.