Order: Rheiiformes
Family: Rheidae
The Lesser Rhea is a large, flightless bird found across the Patagonian steppes and Andean foothills. Standing about 90 to 100 cm tall, it has grey-brown plumage with white flecks, long legs, and a long neck. Social and wary, Lesser Rheas often form groups, especially outside the breeding season. Males are responsible for building nests and incubating eggs from several females, sometimes caring for up to 50 chicks at once. Their powerful legs make them swift runners, helping them evade predators such as pumas and foxes. The species is well adapted to the open, windswept landscapes of Patagonia, where it feeds on a variety of plants, seeds, and insects. Though once threatened by hunting and habitat loss, some populations are now stable, but the species remains near-threatened in parts of its range.
Habitat
Open Patagonian steppes, grasslands, shrublands, and foothills of the Andes, often in arid or semi-arid regions.
Foraging
Feeds by walking and grazing on grasses, seeds, leaves, and occasionally insects and small vertebrates.
