Ruff

Calidris pugnax

The Ruff is a medium-sized migratory shorebird known for its distinctive breeding plumage and elaborate courtship displays. During the breeding season, males develop a colorful ruff around their necks and exhibit a wide range of plumage variations, from dark to light. Females and non-breeding males have a more subdued appearance. These birds are often found in wetlands, marshes, and mudflats, where they forage for invertebrates such as insects, worms, and crustaceans. The Ruff undertakes long migrations, traveling between its breeding grounds in northern Europe and its wintering areas in Africa and southern Asia.

Habitat: Wetlands, marshes, mudflats