From Opus

Photo by rayh
Titchwell, Norfolk, August 2003

Philomachus pugnax

[edit] Identification

29-32cm
Variable plumaged wader; male much larger than female. Small head on long neck. Legs can be green, yellow, orange or flesh-coloured.
Breeding Male Has extra-ordinary ear tufts, crest and erectile ruff - black, brown, white; barred or streaked. Belly and sides of rump are white. Black breast. Pale narrow wing bar. Bill may be brown, red or yellow.
Female, Juvenile and winter Male: brown, streaked darker above with a buffy breast.
Their feathers seem to 'ruffle' more easily in the wind than happens with other waders.

[edit] Similar Species

Winter males similar to Common Redshank but look round-shouldered and pot-bellied in comparison.

[edit] Gallery

Photo by frydferd Martin Mere February 2008

Juvenile Photo by Akihaka Salo, Finland August 2006

Breeding Male Photo by Robert L Jarvis North Finland June 2001

Intermediate Plumage Photo by trevor.wht Abberton Reservoir, Near Colchester, Essex, England, July 2009

[edit] Distribution

Breeds in the Arctic and sub Arctic regions of Northern Europe and Asia.

On migration can be found anywhere along the coast of Western Europe and at inland wetland sites.

Large numbers winter in East, South and West Africa, although birds may be found in India and further East. They will travel large distances on migration, birds from Eastern Siberia have been found in West Africa

Rare vagrant to California, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. Accidental vagrant to Kansas.

[edit] Taxonomy

Monotypic^[1]

[edit] Habitat

Breeds in bogs, marshes and wet meadows. Winter, and on passage, can be found on inland marshes, lake shores, occasionally estuaries.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

They build their nest in a well-hidden location on the ground, and 3-4 eggs are laid.

[edit] Diet

They forage in wet grassland and soft mud. The diet includes insects, earthworms, larvae, frogs, small fish, and seeds.

[edit] Vocalisation

A low "chut-ut".

[edit] References

1. Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
2. Wikipedia
3. Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
4. Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
5. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
6. Birds of the Western Palearctic interactive 2.0.3 2009

[edit] External Links