Birds · Rheiformes · Rheidae

Lesser Rhea

Rhea pennata

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

The lesser rhea, also known as Darwin's rhea, and in Spanish as ñandú petiso, ñandú de Magallanes, choique, suri or simply ñandú, is a rheiform bird of the family Rheidae native to the southern Andean region of South America and to Patagonia. It is a large flightless bird, the smaller of the two living rhea species. It is found on the Andean altiplano of Peru and Bolivia, the northern Andean part of Argentina and Chile, and in Patagonia.

Weight

15 kg – 29 kg

Size

90 cm – 1 m

Lifespan

20 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Herd

Lives in large groups as a strategy against predators.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

DesertMountainGrasslandOmnivore Diurnal In herds Near Threatened Bird Desert Mountain Grassland

4countries 15parks1same family

Fun facts

The male does everything: he scrapes the nest, incubates for forty days the eggs laid by several different females in the same hollow, and then raises the brood alone, which can number more than twenty chicks.
Its eggs were a staple food for the Tehuelche and Mapuche peoples of Patagonia, and the shells turn up frequently at archaeological sites across the steppe.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Patagonian steppe, arid scrub and high Andean puna of Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru
Birth weight: Precocial: born covered in down and leaves the nest within a few hours
Size at birth: Precocial: born covered in down and leaves the nest within a few hours
Sexual maturity: 3 years
Gestation / incubation: 40 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 20 eggs

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhea_pennata

Where to find it

See its range on the interactive map

Best time: All year round on the Patagonian steppe and the Andean altiplano, by day; between October and December the males incubate and lead the broods.