Philomachus pugnax - Ruff
Feather characters. Barbules are short (0.52-0.61 mm) and divided into pigmented nodes and partly pigmented (less than 50%) internodes. Both vase-shaped and slightly thickened nodes are present. Nodes are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules (34-36 per mm). Proximal nodes are vase-shaped, they gradually decrease into slightly thickened nodes distally. Nodes may be very small. Villi are absent and internodes are straight. Prongs are absent.
Field characters. Size 23-29 cm. Weight: male 171 g, female 104 g (Dunning, 1993). Female about 25% smaller than male. Male in breeding plumage unmistakable, with extraordinary ruff and ear-tufts, in endless variations of black, white, brown, etc.; ruff shows in flight as very thick neck. Adult in spring and autumn plumage with brown upperparts, marked with dark patches, contrasting with light chin and belly. Colour of bill and legs strongly variable, but the latter usually tinged yellow. Female and male in winter with clear dark and sandy "scaly" upperparts, isabelline breast without pied feathering. Juvenile resembles female, but with more distinctly scaled upperparts and pale reddish breast. In some plumages resembles Redshank, but with smaller and rounder head, shorter bill and longer neck; often forages in dense flocks (Redshank seldomly) and, in flight, lacks white trailing edge to wing. In spring, males hold ritual fights on display grounds. Nests in meadows.
Voice. Silent, but sometimes a low 'wek'.
Distribution. Locally, quite common breeding bird in northern part of range; has strongly declined in numbers in southern part, due to modernisation of agricultural land use and drainage of wetlands. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Rare breeding bird of meadows, soggy heath, swampy tundra, etc. Outside breeding season also on muddy margins of freshwater lakes and ponds.