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Sound clips and movies require Adobe Flash player. Latin namePhilomachus pugnax FamilySandpipers and allies (Scolopacidae) OverviewThe ruff is a medium-sized wading bird. It has a long neck, a small head, a rather short slightly droopy bill and medium-long orange or reddish leg. In flight it shows a faint wing-stripe and oval white patches either side of the tail. It breeds in a very few lowland sites in eastern England, and it appears that numbers are dropping. It is a migrant but in the UK some birds are present all year round. Many young birds from Scandinavia visit the UK in late summer, then migrating on to Africa. Where to see themBest looked for on passage in spring and autumn in suitable habitat, particularly on the east and south coasts of the UK. Some birds overwinter, generally near the coast. Try some of the RSPB coastal wetland reserves, where there are lagoons, such as Titchwell, Norfolk. When to see themAll year round What they eatInsects, larvae, frogs, small fish, seeds Estimated numbers
* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn. Distribution
Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations. Find out moreAudio is from commercial recordings Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Europe on 4 CDs or Bird Sounds of Europe & North-west Africa, copyright WildSounds & CEBA (www.wildsounds.com, (UK) +44 (0) 1263 741100) |
 Female  Adult male breeding plumage Similar birdsHelp the RuffJoin today and help us continue our conservation work to keep these birds safe. |
Scrape, RSPB Titchwell Marsh reserve - Katie Fuller
Ruff in flight - Steve Round
Bird illustrations by Mike Langman (RSPB)