Greater Rhea

The Greater Rhea, Rhea americana, is a flightless bird found in eastern South America. Other names for the Greater Rhea include the Grey, Common, American Rhea, ñandú (Guaraní) or ema (Portuguese). One of two species in the genus Rhea, in the family Rheidae, the Greater Rhea is endemic to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. It inhabits a variety of open areas, such as grasslands, savanna or grassy wetlands. It has a length of 3–5 feet (0.91–1.5 m) and a wingspan of 5 feet (1.5 m). Weighing 50–55 pounds (23–25 kg), the Greater Rhea is the largest bird in South America. In the wild, the Greater Rhea has a life expectancy of 15 years. It is also notable for its reproductive habits, and for the fact that a group has established itself in Germany in recent years.

Other names
"Ostrich of South America".

Description
It is grey to brown and white in colour, which helps it to camouflage it. Like other ratites (large flightless birds), there is little difference between the sexes, except the male has a dark collar in the breeding season. The juvenile has more grey in its plumage and is marked with dark stripes that disappear about six months after hatching.

Similar species
The Lesser Rhea is shorter.