Ruff

The ruff is a medium-sized wader with orange legs, and in spring the males wear one of the most variable plumages in the bird world. No two males look alike: they wear a ruff and ear tufts in white, black, chestnut or barred. On their display ground they fight and show off in a group for the females, the « reeves ». Some males, with a white ruff, take no part in the fighting and sneak between the others to mate. Outside the breeding season he is far less conspicuous, with a brown, scaly back. In the Vendée it is seen mainly on migration.