Ruffs being rough!!!

[bob.phillips]

Firstly, can you help with identifying the above please.
My guess is:-

Top - Ruff, male or female?
Middle - Ruff, male in breeding plumage?
Bottom - Dunlin??

Secondly, the next pictures show 2 of the birds in action. Are they trying to breed, or is one just dominating the other??



Advice would be very much appreciated.

Regards,

Bob P.

[Picidae]

Hi Bob

Nice set of pics.

All your birds are Ruffs (including the one in the foreground in pic 1) and all three may be males (certainly at least two of them!) playing a role in the communal lekking, the courtship behaviour specifically associated with this group of waders and which takes place on communal ground called the 'lek'. Social interaction between the males during courtship is complex and several males in varying degrees of plumage, including males in non-breeding plumage (like your 'Dunlin'!) and in part breeding plumage (like your 'female' on top of the male), will often interact (including fighting!) with each other to ensure breeding takes place within the community.

Obviously males behaving like females (known as polymorphism) and the extremely wide variation in the plumage of male Ruffs, sexing them can be difficult and plumage outside the breeding season is very similar and size also vary variable. However, they are dimorphic on size with males being somewhat larger than reeves (females). On this basis the 'dunlin' could be a female as it appears much smaller than the other two individuals but I would expect it to be in breeding plumage, so could be a small male. (Females in the breeding season sport a more spotted (not barred) breast and have no ruff at all).

[bob.phillips]

Picidae,

Thanks for a most detailed a thorough response.

So, what's an incorrect dunlin ID amongst friends.

I just did'nt know that Ruff were so variable in their plumage. It is so interesting to have such a clear view and to be enlightened on the Lecking behaviour of these birds.

Thanks again,

Bob P.

[Picidae]

Originally Posted by bob.phillips

Picidae,

Thanks for a most detailed a thorough response.

So, what's an incorrect dunlin ID amongst friends.

I just did'nt know that Ruff were so variable in their plumage. It is so interesting to have such a clear view and to be enlightened on the Lecking behaviour of these birds.

Thanks again,

Bob P.

lol, it was a bit 'involved' but you raised very pertinent questions that because it involved the behaviour of Ruff as well as their 'sexing' it wasn't so straightforward.

You're very fortunate to have got such an interesting photo - where and when was it taken out of interest?

[bob.phillips]

Sorry to be so long in responding, but I've been away for a week. I'd like to say that I spent days in a hide, sleeping little, just to get this photographic opportunity. However, nothing of the sort. The photos were taken at Pensthorpe in April this year.

Bob P