Ruff

Calidris pugnax

The Ruff is a special bird known for its colorful feathers and fancy dances during mating season. They are often seen in wetlands and are great at blending in with their surroundings.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The Ruff has highly variable breeding plumage, with males displaying a spectacular collar-like ruff and ear tufts in colors ranging from black, white, rufous, to barred patterns. Females are plainer, mottled brown with paler undersides. This striking difference makes breeding males visually distinct from almost any other shorebird.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderCharadriiformesFamilyScolopacidaeGenusCalidris

Ruff

Interesting facts

A Ruff's amazing long migration means it can experience summer at both ends of the world!

Female Ruffs raise their chicks all by themselves, building nests in hidden grassy spots!

No two male Ruffs look exactly alike during breeding season; their ruffs are like unique fingerprints!

Some male Ruffs mimic females to sneak past territorial males and find a mate!

Special abilities

Ruff males can have incredibly diverse feather patterns and mating behaviors, helping them attract mates in unique ways.

Ruff has powerful wings and stamina for long migrations, helping them fly thousands of kilometers between continents.

Ruff can probe marshy ground with its sensitive beak, helping it find hidden insects and worms for food.

Measurements & details

Length: 20-32 cm
Wingspan: 54-60 cm
Weight: 0.07-0.23 kg
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Top Speed: 70 km/h
Clutch Size: 3-4
Incubation: 20-23 days
Migration Distance: 10000 km

Diet & Feeding

The Ruff is an omnivore, mostly eating insects and plant matter found in muddy wetlands.

Primary Foods

Insect larvae
Beetles
Earthworms
Small crustaceans
Seeds
Plant material

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

A swift predator that preys on migrating Ruffs.

eaten by

Arctic Fox

Vulpes lagopus

Preys on Ruff eggs and chicks in breeding grounds.

eats

Common Lake Midge

Chironomus plumosus

Ruffs forage for the larvae of these midges in mud.

eats

Great Diving Beetle

Dytiscus marginalis

Ruffs consume larvae and adult diving beetles.

Traits

Feathered

Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers.

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Camouflaged

Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Insectivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.