Greetings,

Chat Happens wants to congratulate our good friend Anne on observing her life Ruffs (Philomachus pugnax) this past week in California’s Central Valley. For those of you that are not aware, Ruff is a Eurasian species of shorebird that is an annual visitor to North America, primarily on both coasts. The males of the species during the breeding season have ornately plumaged neck and head feathers that they use to display on leks, much like certain types of grouse and prairie-chickens do here in the states. The species is listed as a 3 on a 1-5 range from the American Birding Association regarding difficulty to find in the ABA area.

I believe the birds that Anne had observed were a female, also known as a Reeve, and a juvenile. It is a bird species that is highly sought after by birders, so we extend our congratulations to her on this wonderful find!