Formerly called Pterocnemia pennata until the Pterocnemia and Rheas were merged. Found in high altitude puna grassland, steppes and deserts of southern Peru, western Bolivia, northern Chile and nothern Argentina and also Patagonia. The central Andean bird is sometimes considered to be a separate subspecies / species from the Patagonian one and called Rhea pennata garleppi. Local names: ñandú, ñandú petizo, suri.