Rhea vs Emu: What Are 8 Key Differences?

Written by Jennifer Gaeng
Updated: April 13, 2023
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Rhea and Emu are closely related birds that are both large, flightless (ratite) birds. Even though both birds are unable to fly, there are a few significant differences. Despite their striking resemblance, these two also originate from different continents! Letā€™s take a closer look at the distinctions between them!

Rhea vs Emu: A Comparison 

Emus are larger than rheas.
RheaEmu
Size3 ā€“ 5 feet; 33 ā€“ 66 lbs.Up to 6 feet; Up to 100 lbs.
LooksSmaller, 3 Toes Per Foot, Loose & Rough FeathersLarger, 3 Toes Per Foot, Loose & Silky Feathers
Speed40 MPH31 MPH
TemperamentNon-Aggressive, Competitive For FemalesMales Are Typically Docile, Females Are Territorial
DomesticationPossible With Proper CarePossible With Proper Care
Life ExpectancyUp to 13 YearsUp to 20 Years
EndangeredNear Threatened in Native RangesLeast Concern: Stable

Key Differences Between Rhea and Emu

The key differences between a rhea and an emu are their size, appearance, lifespan, speed, temperament, and endangered status.

The rhea is the only member of the order Rheiformes, which is found only in South America. Two types of rheas are called the “Greater” and “Lesser” rheas. The greater rhea is the largest of all South American birds! After its ratite relative, the emu is the second-largest living bird in terms of height. It is the only endemic member of the genus Dromaius and is confined to Australia, where it is the largest native bird. Although these two birds are the largest ratites in their respective domains, they are vastly different compared to each other.

Let’s compare them below.

Rhea vs Emu: Size

Greater Rhea walking in open field

The Greater Rhea is one of the largest tropical birds in the world.

©Ondrej Prosicky/Shutterstock.com

The Emu is the world’s second-largest living bird, next to the Ostrich. It towers around 6 feet tall and weighs up to 100 pounds. Rheas are smaller than emus. About 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 meters) tall, the South American bird rhea weighs 33ā€“66 pounds (15 and 30 kilograms).

Rhea vs Emu: Looks

The rhea is distinguished by its long neck and long legs. Rheas have feathers on their heads, necks, and legs, but they do not have a tail. Rheas are flightless birds with excessively enormous wings. They are brown or gray, with creamy underparts.

A rough coat of grey-brown to black feathers covers the body of emus. Their exposed skin is a striking blue-black color around their face and neck. Emu chicks are gray with black or brown stripes to help them blend in with their surroundings and avoid predators.

Rhea vs Emu: Speed

Types of Big Birds

Emus can travel great distances, and when necessary can sprint at 50 km/h.

©iStock.com/Gilnature

Rhea’s three-toed feet and powerful legs make it an excellent sprinter. Rhea, despite its inability to fly, can run at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. Rheas use their long, powerful legs to evade danger. Even though their large wings are ineffective for flying, they are employed to keep the bird balanced and change direction while it runs.

Emus used to be able to fly, but evolutionary adaptations have taken away that ability. Despite its inability to fly, the Emu is Australia’s fastest land bird. It is the world’s second-fastest-running bird (after the ostrich) on land. The Emu can reach speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour (31 mph)!

Rhea vs Emu: Temperament

During the breeding season, male rheas compete for females, although they are not aggressive toward each other or other animals. An emu’s disposition may vary from one individual to the next. When it comes to each other, females are noticeably more wary than males. Males tend to be docile, and they’ll generally get along with each other!! Males who don’t get along may drive other males away.

Rhea vs Emu: Domestication

Rheas do not make good pets, however, farms have been established for greater rheas, who have long been hunted for their feathers, meat, eggs, skins, and more. You must, however, be well-versed in their care if you intend to raise them in agriculture.

If you’re wondering if emus make decent pets, the answer is yes, but there are a few caveats. They, like any other animal, need to be properly raised and demand a precise level of care. Buying emu eggs, chicks, adolescents, and mating adults online is possible. Hatching eggs and chicks are most purchased, as they must be acclimated from the start, especially if they are being reared along with other species.

Rhea vs Emu: Life Expectancy

In the wild, emus live for 5 to 10 years. In captivity, they can survive for 15 to 20 years. The maximum lifespan of larger Rheas in the wild is unknown. Captives have been known to survive up to 13 years, but it’s likely that they’ll live considerably longer.

Rhea vs Emu: Endangered

Types of Big Birds

Darwin’s rhea is considered least endangered.

©RudiErnst/Shutterstock.com

A taxonomy for identifying species at high danger of global extinction has been developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). While Darwin’s rhea is considered the least endangered rhea in its native regions by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the larger and Puna rheas are considered near-threatened.

The conservation status of the Emu is Least Concern. Tasmania is the only place in Australia where they are absent. Roadkill, predation on eggs, and habitat loss all pose problems for these birds.

Wrapping Up Rhea vs Emu

Emu drinking at a dam
Emu is native to Australia.

Despite sharing some similar characteristics, these two flightless birds are oceans apart in terms of size, longevity, origin, and external look. Rheas, for example, are native to South America, whereas Emus are indigenous to Australia. The rhea is much smaller than the emu, even though they are both their native continent’s largest birds. However, regardless of which continent you find yourself on, both birds are interesting species!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © RudiErnst/Shutterstock.com


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About the Author

Jennifer Gaeng is a writer at A-Z-Animals focused on animals, lakes, and fishing. With over 15 years of collective experience in writing and researching, Jennifer has honed her skills in various niches, including nature, animals, family care, and self-care. Hailing from Missouri, Jennifer finds inspiration in spending quality time with her loved ones. Her creative spirit extends beyond her writing endeavors, as she finds joy in the art of drawing and immersing herself in the beauty of nature.

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