Ruff

Ruff (Calidris pugnax) is a medium-sized wading bird that is part of the sandpiper family Scolopacidae. It is a highly migratory species, breeding in marshes, wet meadows, and tundra across northern Eurasia. In the winter, it migrates to southern Europe, Africa, southern Asia, and Australia. The Ruff is notable for its remarkable breeding plumage and complex mating behavior, making it a subject of interest among ornithologists and bird watchers.

Description

The Ruff is a distinctive bird, especially during the breeding season. Males, known as ruffs, are larger than females, referred to as reeves, and can be twice their weight. The most striking feature of the breeding male is its ornate collar of feathers, which can vary in color from white through a range of browns and blacks. This variability in plumage, along with differences in leg and bill color, makes individual ruffs highly distinctive. Females and non-breeding males are more subdued in color, generally showing a mottled brown appearance that provides camouflage in their wetland habitats.

Behavior

Feeding

Ruffs are omnivorous, feeding on a variety of insects, small fish, and plant material. They forage in shallow waters or muddy grounds, often probing with their bills for prey.

Breeding

The breeding behavior of the Ruff is one of the most complex among birds. Males display on communal grounds known as leks, where they compete for the attention of females. Each male defends a small territory on the lek, performing elaborate displays that include puffing up their ornate collars, spreading their tail feathers, and engaging in mock fights with rivals. Females visit the lek to choose a mate based on the male's display. After mating, the female is solely responsible for nesting and raising the young.

Conservation Status

The Ruff is classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), although its populations are affected by habitat loss and degradation, particularly in its breeding and wintering grounds. Conservation efforts focus on protecting wetland habitats and ensuring sustainable land use practices.

Habitat

Ruffs breed in a variety of wetland habitats across northern Eurasia, from lowland marshes to arctic tundra. Wintering habitats are similarly diverse, including freshwater and brackish wetlands, rice fields, and coastal mudflats in their southern range.

Migration

Ruffs are long-distance migrants, with some populations traveling thousands of kilometers between their breeding and wintering grounds. Migration routes and timing vary among populations, but generally involve staging areas where birds gather to feed and rest.

In Culture

The Ruff has been a part of human culture in various ways, from being hunted as game in some areas to featuring in art and literature. Its elaborate breeding displays have made it a symbol of courtship and competition in some cultures.