About the Greater Rhea
The greater rhea is a species of flightless bird native to eastern South America. Other names for the greater rhea include the grey, common, or American rhea; ema (Portuguese); or ñandú. One of two species in the genus Rhea, in the family Rheidae, it inhabits a variety of open areas, such as grasslands, savanna or grassy wetlands. Weighing 20–27 kilograms (44–60 lb), the greater rhea is the largest native bird in the Americas. In the wild, the greater rhea has a life expectancy of 10.5 years. It is also notable for its reproductive habits, and for the fact that a population has established itself in Northern Germany in recent years. The species is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Rheiformes |
| Family | Rheas (Rheidae) |
| Species | Rhea americana |
| Species Codes | grerhe1, GRRH |
| Conservation | NT Near Threatened |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the Greater Rhea belong to?
The Greater Rhea (Rhea americana) belongs to the Rheas family (Rheidae), in the order Rheiformes.
What is the conservation status of the Greater Rhea?
The Greater Rhea is classified as "Near Threatened" (NT) by IUCN Red List.
How can I identify the Greater Rhea?
The greater rhea is a species of flightless bird native to eastern South America. Other names for the greater rhea include the grey, common, or American rhea; ema (Portuguese); or ñandú. One of two species in the genus Rhea, in the family Rheidae, it inhabits a variety of open areas, such as grassla...
Where can I report a Greater Rhea sighting?
You can log sightings of Greater Rhea on eBird (ebird.org) using species code grerhe1, or on iNaturalist.
Related Species in Rheas 2 species
Quick Stats
Spotted a Greater Rhea?
Log your sighting on eBird or upload a photo to our AI Bird Identifier!