The rhea is a distant cousin of the ostrich; it is about a fifth of its weight, but still a big bird at about 25kg, massive legs, and standing over five feet high.  The rhea is the largest South American bird.  Rheas cannot fly.  However, they have unusually long wings for flightless birds. They use their wings like an airplane rudder, in order to help them dodge predators.

 After the first two or three days of egg laying, the male stays with the nest and eggs and begins incubating them. A male usually incubates ten to sixty eggs. The chicks hatch within thirty-six hours of each other. The male takes care of the chicks by himself.  When male rheas are taking care of their young, they will charge at female rheas and humans who come too close to the chicks. People working near rheas take dogs with them to divert or discourage the male's charge.

Rhea feathers are used to make feather dusters in South America.   The rhea population has declined considerably and is considered to be near threatened status.