Ruff
Scientific Name: Philomachus pugnaxMaltese Name: Girwiel
Family: Waders (Scolopacidae)
Occurence: Common
Breeds in Malta: No
Overview:
The Ruff is a medium-sized wading bird that breeds in marshes and wet meadows across northern Eurasia. This highly gregarious sandpiper is migratory and sometimes forms huge flocks in its winter grounds. The male is much larger than the female (the reeve), and has a breeding plumage that includes brightly coloured head tufts, bare orange facial skin, extensive black on the breast, and the large collar of ornamental feathers. The female and the non-breeding male have grey-brown upperparts and mainly white underparts. The name Ruff is derived from the ruff, an exaggerated collar fashionable from the mid-sixteenth century to the mid-seventeenth century. The largest numbers breed in Russia with more than 1 million pairs.
Status:
Common migrant, seen migrating in good numbers, often seen in medium-sized flocks. A good number also spend time at Ghadira Nature Reserve during migration. An unusually large influx of Ruff occured on 10th March 2001 when more than 1000 birds were recorded migrating from Cirkewwa.
When to See:
Early March to mid-June and late July till mid-October in Autumn.
Where to See:
Best place to see is Ghadira Nature Reserve. Coasts such as Qawra and Cirkewwa are good spots to see this bird migrating, both in singles and in flocks.
Photographs:
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Male Ruff (changing to winter plumage), Ghadira Nature Reserve |
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Juvenile Ruff, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
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Female Ruff, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
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