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Lesser Rhea
Rhea pennata
Silhouette: Kai Caspar · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderRheiformes (Rheas)
- FamilyRheidae (Rheas)
- GenusRhea (Rheas)
- SpeciesRhea pennata (Lesser Rhea)
In 3 days ~80% in a week >90%
235 Verified sightings at Península Valdés From 2019 to 2026
747 In all 3 parks
October Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted
About the Lesser Rhea
Darwin's rhea or the lesser rhea (Rhea pennata) is a large flightless bird, the smaller of the two extant species of rheas. It is found in the Altiplano and Patagonia in South America. The lesser rhea stands at 90 to 100 cm (35–39 in) tall. Length is 92 to 100 cm (36–39 in) and weight is 15 to 28.6 kg (33–63 lb). Like most ratites, it has a small head and a small bill, the latter measuring 6.2 to 9.2 cm (2.4 to 3.6 in), but has long legs and a long neck. It has relatively larger wings than other ratites, enabling it to run particularly well. It can reach speeds of 60 km/h (37 mph), enabling it to outrun predators. The sharp claws on the toes are effective weapons. Their feathers are similar to those of ostriches, in that they have no aftershaft. Their plumage is spotted brown and white, and the upper part of their tarsus is feathered. The tarsus is 28 to 32 cm (11 to 13 in) long and has 18 horizontal plates on the front.
It is known as ñandú petiso, or ñandú del norte, in Argentina, where the majority live. Other names are suri and choique. The name ñandú comes from the greater rhea's name in Guaraní, ñandu guazu, meaning big spider, possibly in relation... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Lesser Rhea in Península Valdés
LIVEiNaturalistGlobal Distribution
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Península Valdés | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 2 | Lauca National Park | 🇨🇱 Chile | |
| 3 | Torres del Paine National Park | 🇨🇱 Chile |
Zoos & Centres Where Found
Closest Relatives at Península Valdés
No species of the same family or order lives in Península Valdés, so these are its closest relatives here: other birds.
Before you go
What are the chances of seeing a Lesser Rhea in Península Valdés?
Likely
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Lesser Rhea sighting in Península Valdés on a given day, based on 235 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 22nd most-seen of the 96 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 80%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
When is the best time to see a Lesser Rhea in Península Valdés?
March and October
In those months about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Lesser Rhea in Península Valdés on a given day, against about 30% in February, April–May, August and December, the lowest months. June and July have too few records to rate.
What time of day is best to see a Lesser Rhea?
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Lesser Rhea sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Is Península Valdés the best place to see a Lesser Rhea?
Yes
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Lesser Rhea sightings, Península Valdés has the highest daily chance: about 40%. Next come Lauca National Park (Chile, about 30%) and Torres del Paine National Park (Chile, about 10%).
Where does the Lesser Rhea sighting chance come from?
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Lesser Rhea is recorded against all the birds logged in Península Valdés (235 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
