Meet the Ruff - a photo on Flickriver

Meet the Ruff

            Ruffs (Calidris pugnax) are medium-sized waders that belongs to the group of sandpipers which lives and breeds in wet meadows, grasslands and marshes. Although the population worldwide is stable, In Europe they are under threat due to loss of habitats, and they are protected species in the UK. They are typical migrants with over a handful breeding pairs. 

The common English name of this species originates between analogy of a male’s brightly feathered or white head tufts and a ruff, a decorative neck-wear collar fashionable in mid-16th till mid17th century, as can be seen here. The scientific genus name ‘Calidris’ attributed to the Ancient Greek words ‘kalidris’ or ‘skalidris’ used to describe some grey-coloured waterbirds. The specific epithet ‘pugnax’ translates from the Latin as ‘fond of fight’ or ‘aggressive’ and refers to a male’s behaviour during mating period.. 

This mage was taken in the waterscape aviary, recreating a large marshy area under the net. It provides a unique opportunity to observe closely UK waders and waterfowl which are under threat due to reduced natural habitat. Slimbridge Wetland Centre near Dursley. Gloucestershire; England; UK.  

Thank you for your visit, comments and favours, very much appreciated.

Taken in: UK / England / Stroud / Slimbridge (show map)

Taken on: May 14, 2025

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May

spring

Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust

Slimbridge

River Severn estuary

Wetlands

WWT reserve

reserve

Wetland Centre

Gloucestershire

British

England

British wildlife

British waterfowl

British birds

waterfowl

wildfowl

nature

outdoors

fauna

male

waders

wider birds

shorebirds

sandpipers

marshes

wet meadows

Scolopacidae

ruff

Calidris pugnax

Calidris

pugnax

collar

feathered collar

brown

orange

black

white

head tufts

aggressive

combative

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Sets appears in: • Birds

Groups appears in: • Birds • Amateurs more » • Birds , Birds Birds • Bird Fanatics! (No Limits) • Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust • BBC Springwatch (Official) • MarculescuEugen Dreams of Light Portal • brilliant flickr • Flickr Social • Feel...write...share... • Flickr x Oboz Footwear World Photography Day 2025 « less

Camera: Canon EOS R6m2, f/10.0, 1/250 sec, 300mm, ISO 250 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS R6m2
Lens:	RF100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM
Aperture:	f/10.0
Exposure Time:	0.004 sec (1/250)
Focal Length:	300mm
ISO:	250
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Center-weighted average
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Digital Photo Professional
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