Ruff lekking behaviour. Three minutes heavy fight. Norway.

The photo gallery of Ruff you can find at:
www.marekjacko...
In the May-to-June breeding season, the typical male's legs, bill and warty bare facial skin are orange, and he has distinctive head tufts and a neck ruff. These ornaments vary on individual birds, being black, chestnut or white, with the colouring solid, barred or irregular. The grey-brown back has a scale-like pattern, often with black or chestnut feathers, and the underparts are white with extensive black on the breast. The extreme variability of the main breeding plumage is thought to have developed to aid individual recognition in a species that has communal breeding displays, but is usually mute.
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[@padmagyalpo4086]

I live in northern most part of India and hence Ruff is a passage migrant to our region. Although all the Ruff that pass through the Himalayas are non-breeding males. It's wonderful to see it's true breeding plumages of male Ruff. thank you for putting this video.👍🏻

[@ValerySchollaert]

Hi Marek, great images. I',m a ornithology teacher and I will invite my students and followers on internet to watch your video as I'm talking about the ruff behaviour. You should see the views increasing in the following days.

[@MarekJackowskiPhotographer]

Thank you so much Valery. Ruffs are amazing birds. Their behaviour during lek is so extraordinary. I am very happy that you like my videos 😀

[@BirdingwithNick]

Absolutely awesome. Ruff is one of the most amazing shorebirds in the world.

[@hoidoei941]

Once a national icon in springtime. Now practically extinct in our country (99% reduction) due to modern agriculture, overprotecting foxes and agglomeration.. The same trend in neighbouring countries.. Species like the godwit are likely to be next 😢

[@ValkoBranislav]

Krásne natočené - nafilmované...

[@birds_by_Zabugin_V]

Super!

[@_ChrisHayes]

Wonderful film 👌

[@MarekJackowskiPhotographer]

Thank you :)

[@TomSa112]

WOW, it's so wonderful.

[@MarekJackowskiPhotographer]

Thank you :)

[@petr-podrouzek]

Amazing, my friend !! :-)

[@jm34567]

Is that a Redshank alarm calling?

[@MarekJackowskiPhotographer]

It is male Ruff call. During lek when female is comming they get crazy and call like this.

[@vegarguleng1748]

Where in Norway is this recorded?

[@MarekJackowskiPhotographer]

It is a secret.

[@vegarguleng1748]

@@MarekJackowskiPhotographer May I know through email or something? I will not go there, but I ask for a very specific reason.

[@cecileterrasse4725]

Waouh ! Incredible how long was the fight !!

[@MarekJackowskiPhotographer]

I was also amazed by their behaviour … they were constantly fighting for about 4 minutes … I thought they would never stop, until one of them would be down … testosterone … :)

[@LubomirZvara]

Awesome footage 😍👍

[@please.stop.coping]

Holy shit there's a referee.