RUFF

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