Illustration of rhea
: any of three South American ratite birds (Rhea americana, R. pennata, and R. tarapacensis of the family Rheidae) that resemble but are smaller than the African ostrich and that have three toes, a fully feathered head and neck, an undeveloped tail, and pale gray to brownish feathers that droop over the rump and back
Examples of rhea in a Sentence
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Watch the towers play hide and seek as clouds shift with the wind and keep an eye out for guanacos and rheas who come close to the lodge.
—
Sarah Marshall, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Or just pay close attention to the time-lapse footage of emerging cicadas or the cavorting manatees or the Darwin’s rhea, a South American ostrich that happens to be from one of the few species in the documentary that let males raise their kids.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Feb. 2025
Eggshell fragments of rheas have been found at South American archaeological sites dating back to 8,000 years BP.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
What to Do Travelers flock to Patagonia to experience the otherworldly beauty of Torres del Paine National Park and spot Patagonia’s wildlife, including the Big Five: pumas, llama-like guanacos, South Andean deer known as huemul, Andean condors, and the ostrich-like rhea (or ñandú).
—Nora Walsh, Travel + Leisure, 5 June 2023
Ellen has also interrupted Blake’s TikToks to stare curiously at the phone — as has Princess, an affectionate deer, and Regina, a curious rhea.
—Annabelle Timsit, Washington Post, 16 July 2022
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Sarah Marshall, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Or just pay close attention to the time-lapse footage of emerging cicadas or the cavorting manatees or the Darwin’s rhea, a South American ostrich that happens to be from one of the few species in the documentary that let males raise their kids.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Feb. 2025
Eggshell fragments of rheas have been found at South American archaeological sites dating back to 8,000 years BP.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024
What to Do Travelers flock to Patagonia to experience the otherworldly beauty of Torres del Paine National Park and spot Patagonia’s wildlife, including the Big Five: pumas, llama-like guanacos, South Andean deer known as huemul, Andean condors, and the ostrich-like rhea (or ñandú).
—Nora Walsh, Travel + Leisure, 5 June 2023
Ellen has also interrupted Blake’s TikToks to stare curiously at the phone — as has Princess, an affectionate deer, and Regina, a curious rhea.
—Annabelle Timsit, Washington Post, 16 July 2022
Cite this Entry
“Rhea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhea. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rhea
noun
: either of two large three-toed South American birds that cannot fly and resemble but are smaller than the African ostrich
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