ANATOMY OF BIRDS
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
MIGRATIONS OF BIRDS
CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS
LIZARD-TAILED BIRD
AMERICAN TOOTHED-BIRDS
THE OSTRICHES
THE RHEAS
EMEUS AND CASSOWARIES
THE TINAMOUS
THE KIWIS
THE PENGUINS
LOONS AND GREBES
ALBATROSSES & PETRELS
STORK-LIKE BIRDS
GOOSE-LIKE BIRDS
FALCON-LIKE BIRDS
FOWL-LIKE BIRDS
CRANE-LIKE BIRDS
PLOVER-LIKE BIRDS
CUCKOO-LIKE BIRDS
THE ROLLER-LIKE BIRDS
SPARROW-LIKE BIRDS
Birds and Birding's Guide to:
Watching THE RHEAS
Common Rhea
The Rheas are divided into three quite well-marked species, the largest being the Common Rhea (Rhea americana) found in Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and the Argentine Republic. It is much inferior in size to the true Ostrich, although about fifty-two inches in total length. The general color above is slaty gray, with the head blackish and the neck whitish, becoming dark between the shoulders. The under parts are whitish with the exception of two black crescents on the upper breast.
This Rhea was once abundant throughout the Argentine Republic, but with the advent of firearms it has disappeared from many localities. The following account is from the pen of Mr. W. H. Hudson, who had opportunity for many years of studying its habits: “
The Rhea is particularly well adapted in its size, color, faculties, and habits, to the condition of the level woodless country it inhabits; its lofty stature, which greatly exceeded that of many of its enemies, before the appearance of the European mounted hunter, enables it to see far; its dim gray plumage, the color of the haze, made it almost invisible to the eye at a distance, the long neck being so slender and the bulky body so nearly on a level with the tall grasses; while its speed exceeded that of all other animals inhabiting the same country.
“The Rhea lives in bands of from 3 or 4 to 20 or 30 individuals. When they are not persecuted they show no fear of man, and come about the houses, and are as familiar and tame as domestic animals; sometimes, indeed, they become too familiar. When persecuted Rheas soon acquire a wary habit, and escape by running almost before the enemy has caught sight of them, or else crouch down to conceal themselves in the long grass.
Their speed and endurance are so great that, with a fair start, it is almost impossible for the hunter to overtake them, however well mounted. When running the wings hang down like those of a wounded bird, or one wing is raised and held up like a great sail, for what reason it is impossible to say."
The nesting season in the Argentine Republic begins in July, and several females lay in the same nest, which is simply a depression in the ground, each hen laying a dozen or more eggs. Hudson says: “It is common to find from 30 to 60 eggs in a nest, but sometimes a larger number, and I have heard of a nest being found containing 120 eggs.”
The incubation is conducted entirely by the male, who watches over the young with great solicitude. The eggs when fresh are a fine golden yellow, but they grow paler day by day, until finally they fade to a parchment white. Eggs are frequently laid away from the nest, scattered on the pampas, for after the male begins sitting on the eggs he drives the hens away furiously, forcing them to deposit the eggs at random.
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