Ruff

Philomachus pugnax

Combatiente

A large sandpiper, with a short bill and dull yellowish legs. It has long legs and a small-headed appearance. In non-breeding plumage, has white feathering around the base of the bill. Breeding plumage males have variably-colored "ruff" feathers around the head that they fluff up in breeding displays. Length: 20-32 cm.; weight: 70-254 g., with males being much larger than females. Breeds in northern Eurasia and winters in Africa and southern Eurasia. Accidental in wetlands on Puerto Rico (e.g., December 2001 and 2 bird from 3 January to 31 March 2002 at Ca±o Tiburones Nature Reserve; May 2-4, 2002, Central Coloso, Aguadilla) .

TAXONOMY: CHARADRIIFORMES; SCOLOPACIDAE; Scolopacinae

References

Borowik, O. A. and D. A. McLennan. 1999. Phylogenetic patterns of parental care in calidridine sandpipers. Auk 116(4):1107-1117.

del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott, and J. Sargatal, eds. 1996. Handbook of Birds of the World, Vol. 3. Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Hayman, P., J. Marchant, and T. Prater. 1986. Shorebirds: an identification guide. Houghton Mifflin, Boston.

Jonsson, L. 1993. Birds of Europe with North Africa and the Middle East. Princeton, NJ, 559 pp.

Paulson, D. 1993. Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest. Univ Washington, Seattle.

Raffaele, H.A. 1989. A guide to the birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Princeton.

Raffaele, H.A. 1989. Una guía a las aves de Puerto Rico y las Islas Vírgenes. Publishing Resources, Inc., Santurce, PR.

Raffaele, H.A., J.W. Wiley, O.H. Garrido, A.R. Keith, and J.I. Raffaele. 1998. Guide to the birds of the West Indies. Princeton.

Ruff, Spanish text

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