The Ruff is a medium-sized wader, known for its variable plumage and spectacular courtship displays. During the breeding season, males sport elaborate feathered collars and vary in color from black to golden brown. The females, more subdued in appearance, are light brown with dark spots. This bird feeds primarily on insects and small invertebrates, which it finds in the muddy soils of wetlands. The species is migratory, wintering in Africa and returning to Europe in the spring. It nests on the ground in shallow nests; the breeding season runs from May to July. They have a distinctive courtship behavior, with males competing against one another in arenas called “leks.”