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Ruff vs. Common Redshank
article by Doug Newman
Although
relatively simple to separate once the differences are known, these two species
can prove a little tricky, particularly for those without detailed experience
and knowledge of waders.
There are three simple areas on
which to separate these birds.
Colouration and Plumage
The first tip
would be to never use the reddish base to the bill and the reddish legs as a
guide for Common Redshank. Ruff is particularly variable and can have very
similar leg colour and a reddish base to the bill. In fact Common Redshank can
also be variable, especially when in juvenile stages, but that more detailed
analysis is best kept for another discussion. The simple rule is if you see a
reddish bill base and reddish legs, only use it as a guide to point you to these
two species and not as a means to differentiate them.
When using the
colouration and plumage for identification, the guidelines below help separate
the two species.
|
Characteristic |
Ruff |
Common Redshank |
|
Bill Colour |
Bill very variable from completely black to having a black tip and a basal
half ranging from yellow, through orange to reddish.
Also the junction between the base colour and the black is much more
defined.
Courtesy Johan van Rensburg |
Bill pretty consistent in colouration. Tip of the bill is bark grey-black
and the basal half is deep reddish orange. The junction between the base
colour and the black is slightly more graduated than in Ruff.
Courtesy Dewald Swanepoel
|
|
General Colour |
Ruff is generally browner in appearance with heavy scalloping on the back.
This heavy scalloping rules out most waders except Ruff.
Courtesy Doug
Newman
|
Generally very plainly marked (compare with plain back of Common Sandpiper)
but the bird is generally greyer with a slight brown wash.
Courtesy Dewald Swanepoel
|
|
Legs |
Highly variable in colour from black to greenish yellow to orange to
reddish. |
Predominantly confined to reddish orange legs with far less variation than
in Ruff. |
Shape and bill structure
This is also a very easy way to
separate these 2 species. If you look at the silhouette of these two birds
compared, you will see the following:-
Ruff:
Shorter, dumpier looking bird with a relatively small head compared to
it body; shorter, slightly deserved bill. Almost has a pot-bellied look. Bill
tip has more of a blunt rounded end than Common Redshank.
Common Redshank:
A more elongated look, much more
like a sandpiper; also has a more elongated look due to longer wings. Bill is
longer in comparison to a Ruff and does not decurve. Bill tip is pointier and
sharper.
Ruff on the left, Common
Redshank on the right
Wing patterns
This is the real clincher when
deciding if you have seen a Common Redshank or a Ruff.
The feather sections in the flight
pattern are described below.
|
Characteristics |
Ruff |
Common Redshank |
|
Tail |
White outertail coverts with a
dark terminal band to the tail and a dark centre tail shaft joining up with
the dark rump. |
Tail is all white with fine brown
barring on the uppertail with the white and the fine barring moving up onto
the rump. |
|
Back |
Scalloped brown like the bird
when on the ground. |
White back contrasts with darker
upper body. |
|
Wings |
White tips to the greater wing
coverts create a thin white wingbar in an otherwise mottle brownish general
appearance to the upperwing. |
This is the best diagnostic
feature together with the back.
Almost completely white
secondaries create a broad white trailing edge to the wings. |
Ruff upperwing
(Courtesy of the University of Puget Sound)
Common Redshank upper
wing (Courtesy of the University of Puget Sound)
Finally in
summary, here are the key features to look for:-
- Bill length
– Common Redshank has a longer bill than Ruff
- Bill shape –
Ruff slightly decurved and blunt tip, Common Redshank, longer bill and sharper
tip
- Back – Ruff
browner and heavily scalloped, Common Redshank very plain back, greyer washed
brownish
- Flight
Pattern – Ruff dark centre to tail and mainly dark wings, Common Redshank
mainly white tail with fine barring and all white secondaries create a large
white trailing edge to the wing.
Ruff - Courtesy Johan van
Rensburg
Common Redshank - Courtesy
Dewald Swanepoel
References
Shorebirds, An identification Guide
– Peter Hayman, John Marchant, Tony Prater – Published by Houghton Mifflin 1986
University of Puget Sound, Online Biology Museum – Sandpiper wing photos
http://www2.ups.edu/biology/museum/wings_Scolopacidae.html
Photos supplied by Dewald Swanepoel,
Johan Van Rensburg and Doug Newman
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