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American Rhea
The flightless American Rhea (Rhea americana), also known as the Gray, Common, or Greater Rhea is not only the largest species of the genus rhea but the largest American bird.
Characteristics
The adults have an average weight 27 kilograms (60 lbs) and are 129 cm (51 inches) long. The males are generally bigger than the females. Rheas have a fluffily, tattered looking plumage. The legs are long and strong, and have three toes.
The plumage is grey or brown, with a high individual diversity. In general, the males are darker than the females, but albinos do occur.
Habitat and geographical extension
Male rheas are very territorial during the breeding season. The infant chicks are highly intolerant of toxins[citation needed], having high mortality in typical confinement farming situations. Under optimum conditions chicks will grow to four feet tall by their fifth month.
Farmers sometimes consider them pests, because they will eat broad-leaved crop plants. Because of this habit, farmers sometimes kill the birds. This, along with egg gathering and habitat loss has led to a sharp population decline; the species is listed as being of "special concern." They do not usually eat most cereals or other monocots, but they relish cabbage, chard and bok choi, although if very hungry, soybean leaves will do. Rheas disdain grasses unless there are no other options. The habitual burning of crops in South America has contributed to their decline.
The American Rhea lives in grassland, savanna, scrub forest, chaparral, and even desert, but prefers areas with at least some tall vegetation. During the breeding season , it stays near water. It is endemic to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazi, Paraguay and Uruguay.
The American Rhea is counted as native in Germany. Three pairs escaped from a farm in Gross Groenau in august 2000. The birds survived the winter and were able to reproduce. The birds crossed the Wakenitz river and founded a colony in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the area between Schattin, Utrecht and Rieps. Rheas were also sighted in the bordering areas.
Due to their conservation status, the birds are not allowed to be hunted or killed and some estimate the population to be around 200 birds. The birds are counted in Germany as Neozoa (new animal or new citizen) and are seen as a tourist attraction by some locals and as danger to the environment by others. If the Rhea is a danger to the environment, it could not be proven.
Rhea farming
Rhea are farmed in North America and Europe (as are the Emu and the Ostrich). While the main produce are meat and eggs, rhea oil is also used for cosmetics and soaps.
Subspecies
There are five subspecies of the American Rhea, which are difficult to distinguish. One main distinguishing trait is the black coloring of the throat.
Rhea americana americana, Brazil
Rhea americana intermedia, Uruguay and bordering Brazil
Rhea americana nobilis, eastern Paraguay
Rhea americana araneipes, western Paraguay, eastern Bolivia, bordering Brazil
Rhea americana albescens, northern Argentina
Conservation status
The American Rhea is a threatened species as listed in CITES, although only near threatened according to the IUCN.
Literature
Josep del Hoyo et al.: Handbook of the Birds of the World, Band 1 (Ostrich to Ducks). Lynx Edicions, 1992, ISBN 84-87334-10-5
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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article American Rhea
