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Ruff
Calidris pugnax
At a Glance
Of the various Eurasian shorebirds that stray into North America, this one is the most regular and widespread in its occurrence. Ruffs are best known for their bizarre courtship plumage and rituals. In spring, male Ruffs are wildly variable in color and pattern of their neck ruffs and head tufts; they gather on display grounds, or 'leks,' and display to attract females. Rudimentary displays are occasionally seen from spring migrant Ruffs in North America.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Sandpiper-like Birds, Sandpipers
Conservation
Low Concern
Habitat
Freshwater Wetlands, Lakes, Ponds, and Rivers, Saltwater Wetlands, Tundra and Boreal Habitats
Region
Alaska and The North, California, Eastern Canada, Florida, Great Lakes, Mid Atlantic, New England, Northwest, Plains, Southeast, Texas, Western Canada
Behavior
Direct Flight, Rapid Wingbeats, Running
Range & Identification
Migration & Range Maps
In North America, a regular stray near both coasts, less frequent in the interior. Found somewhat more often in fall than in spring.
Description
11" (28 cm). Spring males highly variable and colorful, with neck ruffs and head tufts of chestnut, black, and white. In other plumages, best known by overall buff brown look, and by shape: stocky body, small round head, short bill. Legs vary from orange to greenish. Males are much larger than females.
Size
About the size of a Crow, About the size of a Robin
Color
Black, Brown, Orange, Red, Tan, White, Yellow
Wing Shape
Pointed, Tapered
Tail Shape
Rounded, Short, Square-tipped, Wedge-shaped
Songs and Calls
Usually silent, but occasionally a soft tu-whit when flushed.
Call Pattern
Flat, Undulating
Call Type
Chirp/Chip, Raucous
Habitat
Grassy marshes, mudflats, flooded fields. Migrants in North America often are seen on marshes or ponds a short distance inland; on the coast, they favor estuaries, lagoons, mudflats at inlets, salt marshes. Generally not on open sandy beaches.
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Behavior
Eggs
4, sometimes 2-3. Olive to green, blotched with brown. Incubation is by female only, 20-23 days.
Young
Downy young leave nest soon after hatching. Female feeds young at first, but they learn to feed themselves after a few days. Age at first flight about 25-28 days.
Feeding Behavior
Forages while walking or wading, by picking up items from surface or probing in water or mud. Sometimes forages actively, running about on open mudflats. May feed by day or night.
Diet
Mostly insects and other invertebrates, also seeds. Diet in North America not well known. In Eurasia, eats many insects, especially flies, beetles, caddisflies. Also eats small mollusks, crustaceans, spiders, worms, small fish, frogs. During migration and winter may eat many seeds, sometimes forming major part of diet.
Nesting
Has nested once in Alaska, but information here applies to Eurasian birds. Males gather in spring on "leks" and display to attract females. In display, male raises head tufts and neck ruff, flutters wings, may leap in air; many other elaborate postures including bowing, crouching with feathers fluffed up, standing tall. Usually silent during display. Males often fight. Female visits lek, mates with one of the males; male takes no part in caring for eggs or young. Nest site is on ground, well hidden in grass or marsh. Nest (built by female) is shallow depression lined with grasses.
Climate Vulnerability
Conservation Status
Has decreased in some parts of European range because of loss of wetland habitat.