To repeat the intro to my previous posts on this subject ….

Many of the migrant waders – or shorebirds as they are also known – display the most Jeckyll and Hyde characteristics of all birds, living two dramatically different lives and spending time in habitats which are far removed from each other, both in distance and in nature.

Separating these two lives are amazing journeys that take these small yet hardy birds halfway across the world – and back again.

In the southern hemisphere we get to know migrant species during the months from October to April, so let’s find out a bit more by delving (again) into the typical annual life cycle of these waders.

This time it’s one of the most common freshwater waders –

Ruff (Kemphaan) Calidris pugnax

The Ruff was named for its projecting coloured ring of feathers around the neck (in breeding plumage, which we do not see in southern Africa). It is also the name given to the projecting starched frill worn around the neck during the Elizabethan era.

The genus Calidris comes from the Greek kalidris applied by Aristotle in 330BC to an unspecified sandpiper

The species name pugnax is from the Latin pugnus, the origin of the word pugnacious, so named for the energetic confrontation between males at their breeding grounds (called leks)

In a similar vein, the Afrikaans name ‘Kemphaan’ comes from the same word in Dutch, which translates literally to “combative rooster”

Identification

Male Ruffs in breeding plumage are hard to miss, as this photo (from Cornell Birds of the World) shows –

The Ruffs we see in southern Africa are in their non-breeding plumage, the males having lost the variably coloured head-tufts and ruff, leaving them quite plain by comparison to the spectacular breeding colours.

The larger size of the Ruff tends to make it a bit easier to identify amongst other shorebirds.

Females greatly outnumber males but are smaller and are called Reeves

What to look out for –

• size : 20 to 30cm with thickset appearance

• distinctive scalloped upperparts

• shortish stout bill, slightly decurved

• orange legs – which no similar sized wader has

An uncommon white form can be found – the white extending from the head to the upperparts and breast. I came across such a Ruff during a visit to Marievale Bird Sanctuary, south-east of Johannesburg, some years ago

Worldwide Distribution –

The orange area on the global distribution map (from Cornell Birds of the World) shows where breeding occurs in the Northern Hemisphere while the blue area, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, is where they go to ‘get away from it all’ and prepare themselves for the next round of raising a family.

Southern African Distribution

The southern African distribution map (from The Firefinch Birding app) shows the species presence across most of the region, absent only from the highlands of Lesotho.

Life in the North – Siberia’s not so bad!

As with other migrant shorebirds, Ruffs choose to breed in the Arctic and subarctic, from Scandinavia eastwards through Siberia to Chukotskiy Peninsula.

Their preferred breeding habitat is coastal to forest tundra, near small lakes, in marshes and deltas with shallow-water margins.

Their diet is mainly small terrestrial and aquatic insects, caught by pecking or probing while walking in shallow water.

Breeding – no time for headaches

Mating generally occurs at traditional ‘leks’ – arenas where males gather to display their finery and perform ritual attacks on other males – that’s the basics, it actually involves a lot more as described by Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s ‘All About Birds’ which I have ‘borrowed’ from their website :

The nest is usually a shallow scrape on the ground lined with grass, stems and leaves, concealed in marsh plants or meadow grass.

Clutches of eggs (usually 4) are laid and incubated by the female only for about 3 weeks. Fledging some 3 to 4 weeks later, the fledglings are independent soon thereafter, facing the many dangers that young birds are subject to.

Migration – It’s getting too cold, let’s head south

The most easterly populations of Ruff are the longest distance, terrestrial migrants in the world, travelling some 16,000 kms between breeding and non-breeding grounds.

Those heading to southern Africa are thought to set off from Siberia from where they head south via the Black and Caspian Seas before passing along the Rift Valley and spreading out over southern Africa.

Adults arrive in southern Africa by mid August with juveniles following from September through to November/December

Life in the South – It’s Holiday time!

Estimates of Ruffs that end up in southern Africa vary between 50 – 200,000, with just 10% of those believed to be males, so vastly outnumbered by females (no comment …!)

Favoured freshwater habitats are those with shallow water, muddy margins and short emergent vegetation, found at muddy estuaries, salt-marshes, pans, dams, vleis and the like.

Males start to lose their breeding plumage before their southward migration so are unlikely to be seen in our parts in that form, but a few early arrivals in the south may have vestiges of breeding plumage visible.

Usually found in small parties and flocks, often in the company of other waders.

The males depart from January to February with the females following in April to May, heading north to their breeding grounds where the cycle will start all over again…

References :

Cornell Lab of Ornithology Birds of the World;

Roberts VII Birds of Southern Africa;

Firefinch app,

Collins Bird Guide;

Waders of Southern Africa