Site Of Nest:
Food:
Plumage:
Reproduction:
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A simple scrape in the ground, lined with grass
and leaves.
Mainly vegetarian and prefer broad-leafed plants but they
also
eat fruits, seeds and roots, as well as insects such as grasshoppers
and small reptiles and rodents.
Grey-brown plumage, long legs and long necks. Large
males
can reach 170 cm tall at the head, 100 cm
at the back
and can weigh up to 40 kg Their wings are large for
a
flightless bird, 250 cm, and are spread
while running, to act
like sails. Unlike most birds, Rheas have only three
toes.
The male incubates from ten to sixty eggs. The male will use a decoy
system and place some eggs outside the nest and sacrifice these to
predators, so that they won't attempt to get inside the nest.
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