Photographed near Bunbury, Western Australia, November 2016 |
(881) RUFF Philomachus pugnax
AUSTRALIA (654)
Breeds on lowland grassy wet meadows; winters on wet meadows, muddy fringes of pools and lakes, and brackish coastal lagoons. Male larger, between 29-32 cm; female 22-26 cm. Breeds in northern Eurasia, winters mainly in Africa, but also southern Asia and Australia.
Note: It is usually considered the only member of its genus, Philomachus. A group of ruffs is collectively known as a collar. An unusual bird where the males grow an elaborate collar of feathers used for display in the mating process.
Photographed at Lake Murdeduke, January 2017 |