23. The Ruff

The Ruff belongs to a large bird group that birders collectively call waders, and we get a decent selection of waders visiting our shores (literally) while on migration. Most make a brief stopover to rest and feed, then resume their journey north or south. The Ruff (M: Girwiel) is one such intercontinental commuter, and it is a regular visitor at wetlands like Ghadira, Is-Simar and Salina. As waders go, Ruffs are medium-sized birds. They show typical slender wader body shape with long legs and long bill, both excellent tools of you're in the business of walking around in shallow water rooting out worms from the mud or sand. To understand why a Ruff is so called, you need to see it in full breeding plumage, when it grows a spectacular frilly collar of feathers. Ruffs don't nest in Malta, so we rarely get to see them in their full regalia. Pity.

Text by Victor Falzon, photo by Denis Cachia. Copyright to Birdlife Malta.