Observe and photograph a species in its natural habitat
Learn where and when to observe a species in the wild, how to recognize it in the field, and what habitats it lives in. Get photography tips adapted to its behavior and capture stunning images without disturbing the animal. For full details, open the complete profile in the WildlifePhotographer app.
Greater rhea
Scientific name: Rhea americana
IUCN Status: Near Threatened
Family: RHEIDAE
Group: Birds
Shyness: Not shy
Safe distance: 20 m
Breeding season / Courtship: 01.07-31.01
Gestation: 29–43 jours
Births: 25.08-28.02
Habitat:
Grasslands, savannas and wet grassy areas
Description:
The greater rhea is a large flightless bird in the family Rheidae, standing 1.4–1.7 m tall and weighing 20–27 kg, with grey plumage and a long neck. It inhabits grasslands, savannas and wet meadows of South America, feeding on plants, seeds, insects and small vertebrates. During the breeding season, males dig shallow nests in the ground and alone incubate the 20–40 eggs laid by multiple females.
Recommended lens:
>=300 mm
Photography tips:
Lay low in the grasslands at dawn or dusk, anticipate its fast running; shoot from a slight low angle with a high shutter speed to freeze its strides and use shallow depth of field to isolate the bird against the horizon.
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