redshank or ruff, southern England (1 Viewer)

marnixR

WYSIWYG

• Feb 10, 2018

• #1

i thought the attached were all redshank, but i thought maybe they could be ruff instead, since the latter are so variable in aspect
is the red legs cum red bill with black tip diagnostic for redshank, with the ruff's bill being all black ?

all pictures taken a few days ago, the first three pictures near Hengistbury Head, the last one near Keyhaven, New Forest

 

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ClarkWGriswold

Carpe Carpum

Supporter

• Feb 10, 2018

• #2

Hi M. You're spot on when you say Ruff can be incredibly variable. These are all Common Redshank. The red legs being a good fearure, again, as you mentioned.

Cymru am byth.

Rich

 

marnixR

WYSIWYG

• Feb 10, 2018

• #3

thanks

so does that mean a ruff's legs are not red during the winter, and never as red as a redshank's in summer ?

 

david kelly

Drive-by Birder

• Feb 10, 2018

• #4

marnixR said:

thanks

so does that mean a ruff's legs are not red during the winter, and never as red as a redshank's in summer ?

Click to expand...

The legs are not the way to distinguish ruff from redshank. Ruff has an obviously scalloped pattern on the back, as well as having a rather hump backed appearance with a relatively small head. It never has a red base to the bill.

David

 

T

thfranc

Member

• Feb 11, 2018

• #5

For me, it's Tringa totanus (Redshank / Chevalier gambette).
It's not Tringa erythropus (Spotted redshank / Chevalier arlequin), besause the base of the bill is orange both on lower AND upper part.

 

marnixR

WYSIWYG

• Feb 11, 2018

• #6

david kelly said:

The legs are not the way to distinguish ruff from redshank. Ruff has an obviously scalloped pattern on the back, as well as having a rather hump backed appearance with a relatively small head. It never has a red base to the bill.

David

Click to expand...

thanks - always nice to have some readily accessible identifiable characters
for me the presence of a red base to the bill will do, patterns on the back can sometimes be less obvious