• Some flightless birds reside along the Amazon river in the Amazon rainforest.amazonian brazilian image by Eduardo Azeredo from Fotolia.com
  
  The Amazon river basin and surrounding forest provides a home to a reported 1,500 bird species though theories suggest that more non-documented species exist in the area. Out of the abundant bird-life in the Amazon, less than 10 species of flightless birds exist. Flightless birds in the Amazon generally stick to the ground or jump and climb through the treetops to move about the forest.
  
  

Rheas

• Only two species of Rhea exist in the Amazon rainforest.Common Rhea image by Daniel Mortell from Fotolia.com
  
  Only two species of Rheas exist on earth today, though extinct species once existed. The Greater Rhea and Lesser Rhea species live endemically in the southern parts of South America, though some migrate into the southern-most parts of the Amazon rainforest. Both species of Rhea have extraordinary mating habits in which the male builds a nest and attempts to copulate with numerous females and have each female lay her egg in his nest. The male Rhea then incubates the eggs for six weeks after which he then raises the young Rheas. While caring for newly hatched Rheas, an adult male Rhea will aggressive charge at any animal that closely approaches the young birds.
  
  

Magellanic Flightless Steamer Duck

• Also known as the Fuegian steamer duck, the Magellanic flightless steamer duck resides in the geographical range of the southwest coast and the coastal islands of South America. In some instances this flightless duck resides within the southern parts of the Amazon rainforest. The Fuegian Steamer duck cannot fly because it cannot support its large body size with its small wings. Other species of steamer ducks have the ability to fly but generally avoid flying except in rare situations.
  
  

Titicaca Grebe

• Found in both the Amazon and on the list of endangered species, the Titicaca grebe resides naturally around Lake Titicaca in Peru and Bolivia. Lake Titicaca lies completely within the Amazon rainforest, and the Titicaca Grebe often moves out away from the lake to other nearby freshwater lakes when flooding occurs. This flightless bird of the Amazon became endangered around 1990 due to entrapment by gill nets used for fishing in Lake Titicaca and nearby freshwater lakes. Another source of endangerment to the Titicaca Grebe comes from chemical contamination in some lakes within the Amazon rainforest, including Lakes Uru Uru and Poopo.