Rita & Rio

Rheas have three toes on each foot, (Ostriches have two) and are the largest bird native to South America

Rheas are flightless birds sometimes likened to Ostriches, though they are in a different family. Rheas have three toes on each foot (Ostriches have two) and are the largest bird native to South America.

In the wild they live in flocks of 20-30 where each male fights for territory (so ours is aggressive with us each Spring!) and females mate with a number of the opposite sex.

Several females will lay in one nest and then leave the incubation and care of the young entirely to the male. The male may incubate up to 80 eggs, which may be laid over a number of days, during which time he will hiss at the approaching female but allow her to lay another egg. The eggs take 35-40 days to hatch and the first chicks wander away while the male stays on the eggs, keeping in contact by calling.

Rheas reach about 5 ft (1.5 m) tall and weigh about 50 lbs (23 kgs).

Rheas are kept increasingly for meat as it is ultra-low in fat and very tender. Their skin also makes good leather and their toe-nails can be made into jewellery. Their feathers and refined oil also have a value.