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PLATE 48: RUFF AND PHALAROPES
Ruff Calidris pugnax PM, WV
L: 28 (male); 22 (female). W: 56 (male). Male about size of Common Redshank, but more upright with
longer neck, smaller head and proportionately shorter, slightly drooping bill; often looks hump-
backed and pot-bellied. Flight lazy, sometimes interrupted with glides; shows narrow wing-bar
and characteristic oval white patches at tail-base. Adult in summer plumage variable: upperparts,
breast and flanks show mix of black, brown, chestnut, ochre and white, heavily barred or blotched
(male may show large ruffs and ear-tufts in spring). Plumage greyer in winter, when lores always
pale, face often whitish and rear belly and undertail always white; a few males show white on head
and breast. Bill mostly blackish-brown, but can be yellow or pinkish, tipped dark; legs vary from
orange-red to greenish-grey. In juvenile, upperparts scaly, blackish-brown distinctly fringed
buff, and head, neck and breast yellowish-brown, tinged orange; legs are yellowish-brown or
greenish. Often in loose flocks. Habitat Inland wetland fringes, wet grassland, coastal lagoons.
Note Passage and winter hatched. Formerly placed in genus Philomachus.Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor V
L: 23. W: 41. Resembles Marsh Sandpiper more than the other two phalaropes, but has shorter,
brighter legs, long needle-like black bill, and white rump (not white wedge extending up back).
Feeds as much on land as in water and very active. In flight shows white rump, plain greyish
upperwing without wing-bar and feet projecting beyond tip of tail. In winter plumage, mainly grey
with white underparts and yellow legs. In breeding plumage, albeit unlikely to be seen in region,
has a colourful and striking head and neck pattern, especially in female. Habitat Fresh and brackish
waters. Note Vagrant Oman, UAE.Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus PM, WV
L: 18. W: 36. Small, elegant wader which swims high on water, often spinning to whirl up food
items, which will be taken with needle-thin, black bill. In breeding plumage has striking head and
neck pattern (female is brighter than male). In winter plumage upperparts are pale grey with black
mask through eye and black on hindcrown conspicuous. Juvenile has similar head pattern, but
upperparts are dark brown with prominent ochre bands. Flight fast and jerky, wings show distinct
white wing-bar; often suddenly settles on water. Separated from Grey Phalarope in all plumages by
smaller size and very thin black bill; in winter, Grey Phalarope is also paler and more uniform above.
Gregarious; often in large flocks at sea. Voice Flight call short, sharp kritt or kitt recalling Sanderling,
but quieter and finer. Habitat Maritime; inland lakes on passage. Note Passage hatched, winters
in Arabian Sea.Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius pm, wv
L: 21. W: 42. Slightly larger and more robust than Red-necked Phalarope, with shorter, thicker neck;
bill distinctly thicker, less pointed and sometimes pale (yellowish) at base. Red breeding plumage
with black-and-white head pattern is not likely to be seen in the region. Winter plumage recalls
a very small gull when feeding on water with unmarked grey upperparts (paler, more uniform
than Red-necked). First-winter similar to adult, but black on hindneck sometimes remains in winter.
Behaviour and flight pattern similar to Red-necked Phalarope, but wingbeats less jerky. Voice Flight
call a sharp pik. Habitat Essentially maritime, but vagrants may visit lakes, pools or puddles, large
or small. Note Widespread vagrant in Middle East. [Alt: Grey Phalarope]