Ruff: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Storks and Shorebirds · day 5 of 7

Five facts

1. Male ruffs come in three types: territorial males, satellite males with white ruffs, and a very rare form that looks like a female.
2. On a lek, 5 to 20 territorial males each guard a patch about 1 m wide, fluttering wings, jumping and lunging at rivals.
3. About 16% of male ruffs are satellites with white or mottled ruffs. Residents tolerate them because both types together attract more females.
4. A ruff's breeding plumage varies so much that it is thought to help individuals recognise each other. The species is usually mute.
5. Some ruffs that breed in Siberia fly a yearly round trip of up to 30,000 km to spend the winter in West Africa.

The quiz

1. What is the rarest type of male ruff?

• One with a black ruff
• One with a chestnut ruff
• One with a bald head
• One with female-like plumage (correct)

A very rare form of male looks like a female.

2. About how wide is the area of the lek that each territorial male holds?

• About 10 m
• About 1 m (correct)
• About 50 cm
• About 5 m

Each territorial male holds an area about 1 m across.

3. Why do resident males tolerate satellite males?

• Both types together attract more females (correct)
• Satellites bring them food
• Satellites are their sons
• Satellites guard the nests

The presence of both types attracts more females.

4. What is the variable plumage thought to help with?

• Hiding in reeds
• Keeping warm
• Recognising individuals (correct)
• Attracting insects

The varied plumage is thought to help individuals recognise each other.

5. How far can some Siberian ruffs travel on their yearly round trip?

• Up to 3,000 km
• Up to 30,000 km (correct)
• Up to 13,000 km
• Up to 300 km

Some Siberian ruffs travel up to 30,000 km on their annual round trip.

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