Ruff Bird Facts (Philomachus pugnax)

Visual Identification

Appearance

Ruffs are unique among birds, featuring three distinct male types. Territorial males, comprising up to 84% of the population, are long-necked, round-bellied waders with a flamboyant neck ruff in colours like buff, chestnut, black, or purple. Their upper back varies in colour, while underparts are dark, often speckled. They sport brownish-yellow facial warts, a brownish-orange bill, and legs ranging from greenish-yellow to dark orange.

"Satellite" males, about 16% of the population, have white neck ruffs and head tufts. They lack territories but are tolerated in leks, attracting females and increasing mating chances for territorial males. The rare faeder males, only 1% of the population, resemble females in size and plumage, avoiding confrontations with territorial males.

Ruffs exhibit extreme sexual dimorphism. Females, called reeves, are smaller than breeding males and lack ornamental features. They have greyish-brown upperparts and white underparts streaked with darker brown. Juveniles display dark brown upperparts edged with buff, reddish-brown underparts, and a lighter face with a pale, streaked throat. Their bill is black, with legs and feet in pink, grey, or greenish hues.

Size

Length

20cm to 32cm

Wingspan

46cm to 60cm

Weight

70g to 200g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Brown White Black

Secondary Colour

Buff Grey

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Orange Yellow

Primary Colour (Female)

Brown Grey

Secondary Colour (Female)

White

Beak Colour (Female)

Black

Leg Colour (Female)

Orange Yellow

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Ruff is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Ruff is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Ruff can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Ruff can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Ruff is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Ruff is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Ruff can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Ruff is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Ruff is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Ruff is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Ruff is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Ruff is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Ruffs breed in subarctic and temperate regions across northern Eurasia, from Scandinavia to eastern Siberia. During migration, they can be found in wetlands, flooded fields, and coastal mudflats across Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia.

In the UK, Ruffs are primarily seen as passage migrants and winter visitors, with small numbers breeding in eastern England. Norfolk’s Titchwell Reserve is one site where breeding ruffs have regularly been spotted around the lagoon and low-lying wetland landscape.

They are rare vagrants in North America, occasionally spotted along both coasts.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic, Tropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Ruff. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Passage

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Albania Algeria Angola Armenia Bahrain Bangladesh Belarus Belgium Benin Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brunei Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad China Congo Côte D'Ivoire Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti East Timor (Timor-Leste) Egypt Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Finland France Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Guinea Guinea-Bissau Hong Kong Hungary India Indonesia Iran Israel Italy Jordan Kenya Kuwait Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Luxembourg Malawi Malaysia Mali Malta Mauritania Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal Netherlands Niger Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Papua New Guinea Philippines Poland Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Somalia South Africa South Korea Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Sweden Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand The United Kingdom Togo Tunisia Turkmenistan Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Vietnam Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Kazakhstan Lithuania Russia

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Bulgaria Ireland Macedonia Micronesia Portugal South Sudan Switzerland Turkey

Species that pass through the area during migration

Afghanistan Austria Azerbaijan Iraq Kyrgyzstan Moldova Palestine

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Australia Barbados Bermuda Brazil British Virgin Islands Canada Cayman Islands Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Dominica Faroe Islands Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guatemala Iceland Jamaica Japan Laos Liechtenstein Madagascar Maldives Martinique Mauritius Mexico Montserrat New Zealand North Korea Panama Peru Puerto Rico Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Seychelles Solomon Islands Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands Trinidad and Tobago United States of America US Virgin Islands Venezuela

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Ruff demonstrates high agility, particularly during its elaborate courtship displays and in flight. Its ability to perform complex posturing and fly at speeds up to 60 km/h during migration indicates impressive manoeuvrability.

Strength 60

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

As a medium-sized wading bird, the Ruff possesses moderate strength. Its ability to undertake long-distance migrations suggests a robust physique, though it's not particularly known for feats of great strength.

Adaptability 80

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Ruffs show remarkable adaptability, thriving in various wetland habitats across different climate zones. Their opportunistic feeding habits and ability to adjust to diverse breeding and wintering grounds demonstrate considerable adaptability.

Aggressiveness 65

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

While Ruffs engage in ritualized fights during breeding season, these rarely cause actual harm. Their aggressive displays are more for show than genuine combat, indicating a moderate level of aggressiveness primarily confined to mating rituals.

Endurance 90

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The Ruff's long-distance migratory behaviour, flying between subarctic breeding grounds and tropical wintering areas, showcases exceptional endurance. Their ability to sustain flight over vast distances and adapt to various climates during these journeys reflects outstanding stamina.

Diet

Ruffs are opportunistic feeders, primarily consuming insects, larvae, and small invertebrates.

Later in the year, in preparation for migration and en route to wintering grounds, their diet broadens to include grasshoppers, caddisflies, mayflies, crustaceans, worms, fish and frogs.

They feed both during the day and night, plucking prey from the muddy wetlands or probing beneath the surface with their elongated bills.

Behaviour

Ruffs are known for their elaborate courtship displays, where males gather at traditional leks to compete for females. They engage in complex posturing and ritualised fights, rarely causing actual harm.

During migration and winter, Ruffs form large flocks, often mixing with other wader species in wetland habitats.

Vocalisation

Ruffs are generally quiet birds, especially in flight. During courtship displays, males produce low grunting and wheezing sounds, described as 'kwa-kwa-kwa' or 'puff-puff-puff'. Females may give a soft 'kek-kek' call when alarmed or during breeding interactions.

Nesting & Breeding

Ruffs have a unique breeding system where males compete at leks to mate with females. The breeding season typically runs from May to July in northern latitudes.

Females construct simple nests on the ground, often hidden in dense vegetation near water. They lay 3-4 olive-green eggs with dark spots.

Incubation lasts about 20-23 days and is carried out solely by the female. The chicks are precocial and can leave the nest shortly after hatching, fledging at around 25-28 days old.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

While globally listed as Least Concern, Ruff populations have declined in parts of their range due to habitat loss and degradation.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting wetland habitats and managing water levels in key breeding and stopover sites.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

1,594,000 - 9,940,000 individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Reeve (female)

Family:

Scolopacidae

Average Lifespan

4 to 5 years

Max Lifespan

13.9 years ^[4]

Predators

Main predators include foxes, large gulls, and birds of prey such as Peregrine Falcons and Hen Harriers.

Did You Know?

Male Ruffs can be classified into three distinct mating strategies based on their plumage and behaviour.
The name 'Ruff' refers to the elaborate collar of feathers displayed by breeding males.
Ruffs can fly at speeds of up to 60 km/h (around 37 mph) during migration.