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Lesser Rhea
Pterocnemia pennata

DESCRIPTION:
Lesser Rhea
Ñandú Petiso
Pterocnemia pennata
Length: 1400mm. Sexes alike; brownish grey bill; iris dark brown; head and half of neck ochraceous grey; rest of neck, back and wings ochraceous grey with white-tipped wings; breast dark ochraceous brown; belly and thighs white; longitudinal grey band in tibial feathers; same in plumage covering part of tarsus below joint. Legs greyish brown.
Known as Choique, the Lesser Rhea is distinct from the Greater Rhea (Rhea americana) in that it is considerably smaller in size; has a shorter bill and white-tipped feathers; wings hang on flanks, thus appearing shorter; feathered tarsi below joint.
Chicks have greyish white down, with longitudinal dark greyish brown striping; young have uniform ochraceous grey plumage and whitish underparts. Habitat and behaviour: it occurs in arid and semiarid regions, frequently found in groups, sometimes large groups that roam steppes and scrubby fields in Patagonia. It feeds on fruits, grasses, insects, lizards, leaves, buds; some cacti with spines have been found in stomach content, no harm sustained.
During the breeding season, male displays an elaborate courtship ritual that combines different threatening or rigid positions slightly spreading the wings and hitting the ground with its feet in the presence of other competing males. Nest built by male; the male broods eggs of several females that hatch after 40 days and then tends the chicks. When chicks leave the nest they follow the male and, upon danger, he puts them on the alert with a hoarse voice. It is during this time that many family units join together to form large groups. On these occasions all the newly born and juveniles of different ages, called Charitos, can be seen escorted by the adults.
The Lesser Rhea or Choique, a typical inhabitant of Patagonia, amazingly withstands harsh weather: snow, intense cold and very strong winds. Able to run or walk with remarkable endurance in the flat plains or steep foothills. It is hunted as much for its meat as for its feathers.
Range: north of Neuquén and Río Negro to south Santa Cruz; introduced in Tierra del Fuego. Within this range, the subspecies or race Pterocnemia pennata pennata can be found. Another race, Pterocnemia pennata garleppi, occurs in the northeast of Argentina from Jujuy to San Juan, up to 3000m.
Illustrated Handbook of the Birds of Patagonia
Kindless: Kovacs Family
 
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Photographs: Mariano Diez Peña


Birding Patagonia • Birdwatcing in Bariloche, Patagonia, Argentina and Chile.
All Rights reserved. Reproduction of photographs is forbidden without permission from the authors.
Photographs on the website: Mariano Diez Peña