Contact: Sarah Taylor
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Smithsonian

National Zoo Male Rhea With 1 Chick

Caption: A rhea chick and its father stroll around the rheas' outside exhibit at the birdhouse of the Smithsonian's National Zoo. This rhea chick, along with three brothers and sisters, hatched at the National Zoo on April 20 and has been raised by its father. Although this parenting behavior is unusual, male rheas build the nest, incubate the eggs, and raise the chicks after they hatch. The bird originally comes from South America and can grow to be over five feet tall.

Credit: Mehgan Murphy/Smithsonian’s National Zoo

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