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Difference between revisions of "Ruff" - BirdForum Opus

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Image:Juv Ruff 29649Suokukko 18 8 06II.jpg|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|Akihaka|Akihaka}}<br />Salo, [[Finland]] August 2006  
 
Image:Juv Ruff 29649Suokukko 18 8 06II.jpg|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|Akihaka|Akihaka}}<br />Salo, [[Finland]] August 2006  
 
Image:Ruff 16749jun13 91a.jpg|Breeding Male<br />Photo by {{user|Robert+L+Jarvis|Robert L Jarvis}} <br />North [[Finland]] June 2001
 
Image:Ruff 16749jun13 91a.jpg|Breeding Male<br />Photo by {{user|Robert+L+Jarvis|Robert L Jarvis}} <br />North [[Finland]] June 2001
Image:RUFF FLIGHT.jpg|Intermediate Plumage<br />Photo by {{user|trevor.wht|trevor.wht}}<br />Abberton Reservoir, Near Colchester, [[Essex]], [[England]], July 2009  
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Image:RUFF FLIGHT.jpg|Intermediate Plumage<br />Photo by {{user|trevor.wht|trevor.wht}}<br />Abberton Reservoir, Near Colchester, [[Essex]], [[England]], July 2009
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Image:Ruff_Group.JPG|Large Group in Winter<br />By {{user|aloktewari|Alok Tewari}}<br />Gurgaon, [[India]], Nov 2010
 
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Revision as of 15:29, 3 September 2016

Photo by rayh
Titchwell, Norfolk, August 2003
Calidris pugnax

Philomachus pugnax

Identification

26–32 cm (10¼-12½ in)
Variable plumaged wader; male much larger than female. Small head on long neck. Legs can be green, yellow, orange or flesh-coloured.
Breeding Male Has extra-ordinary ear tufts, crest and erectile ruff - black, brown, white; barred or streaked. Belly and sides of rump are white. Black breast. Pale narrow wing bar. Bill may be brown, red or yellow.
Female, Juvenile and winter Male: brown, streaked darker above with a buffy breast.
Their feathers seem to 'ruffle' more easily in the wind than happens with other waders.

Similar Species

Winter males similar to Common Redshank but look round-shouldered and pot-bellied in comparison.

Gallery

Distribution

Breeds in the Arctic and sub Arctic regions of Northern Europe and Asia.

On migration can be found anywhere along the coast of Western Europe and at inland wetland sites.

Large numbers winter in East, South and West Africa, although birds may be found in India and further East. They will travel large distances on migration, birds from Eastern Siberia have been found in West Africa

Rare vagrant to California, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Accidental vagrant to Kansas.

Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species[1]. Formerly placed in the genus Philomachus.

Habitat

Breeds in bogs, marshes and wet meadows. Winter, and on passage, can be found on inland marshes, lake shores, occasionally estuaries.

Behaviour

Breeding

They build their nest in a well-hidden location on the ground, and 3-4 eggs are laid.

Diet

They forage in wet grassland and soft mud. The diet includes insects, earthworms, larvae, frogs, small fish, and seeds.

Vocalisation

A low "chut-ut". <flashmp3>Philomachus pugnax (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (retrieved March 2016)
  3. Wikipedia
  4. Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
  5. Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
  6. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
  7. Birds of the Western Palearctic interactive 2.0.3 2009

Recommended Citation

External Links


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