Ruff

Philomachus pugnax

Other Names

    Combattant varié   Kampfläufer   Combatiente   Brushane   Kemphaan   Combattente

World: Across NW Europe through Siberia to the Sea of Okhotsk. Overwinters in sub-Saharan Africa, the Mediterannean and through the Middle East to India and also Western Europe.

Kenya: Occurs August-May as a passage migrant and winter visitor. It is abundant and widespread in any suitable habitats.

Frequents muddy and marshy areas including rice fields and open grassland close to water. It is one of the most widepspread waders in Kenya during the winter. It is both a nocturnal and diurnal feeder which probes in the mud or picks up prey from the surface. It takes a variety of insects and their larvae (both aquatic and terrestrial) as well as other invertebrates, small fish and frogs. It also eats seeds (including those of rice, cereal and grasses).