The male takes care of the chicks by himself. Yearlings form a flock until they are two years old, which is when they are ready to breed. At the end of the summer males, females, and chicks come together to form large flocks for the winter months. Habitat Rheas live in pampas, campos, cerrado and open chaco woodland of South America. They avoid open grassland.
Rheas live in areas with at least some tall vegatation.
During the breeding season, they stay near rivers, lakes, or marshes. Negative Rheas are a pest to farmers because they will eat almost any agricultural crop. Rheas and their eggs are eaten by local people. They are also killed to be used as dog food. Rhea chicks are threatened by many predators.