Rhea, << REE uh, >> is a large South American bird that cannot fly. It looks like a small ostrich, and it is often called the South American ostrich. However, it has three toes on each foot, while the ostrich has two. The rhea also has larger wings and more feathers on its neck and head than the ostrich. The common rhea stands about 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall and weighs about 50 pounds (23 kilograms).
Rheas live on the plains of southern Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina. They usually live in flocks of 5 to 30, generally in brush-covered land near water where they can bathe and swim. They eat leaves, roots, and insects. Rheas have unusual nesting habits. The male scrapes a shallow hole in the ground, lines it with dry grass, and leads several hens to the nest. Each hen lays an egg. This process may be repeated several times, and a nest may have up to 30 eggs. The male then hatches the eggs and cares for the young.
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