Ruff vs African Snipe
Calidris pugnax compared with Gallinago nigripennis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Ruff | African Snipe |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calidris pugnax | Gallinago nigripennis |
| Order | Charadriiformes | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Scolopacidae | Scolopacidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 32.7 cm (12.9 in) | 25.1 cm (9.9 in) |
| Weight | 156.0 g (5.50 oz) | 124.25 g (4.38 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 3-4 | 2-4 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Ruff
Least Concern
African Snipe
About These Birds
Ruff
Ruff: 20–32 cm, highly sexually dimorphic sandpiper; breeding males grow an elaborate neck ruff in white, black, rufous, or barred patterns for lek displays. Breeds on wet Arctic and boreal meadows of Eurasia; winters in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Female ('Reeve') plain brown. Feeds on invertebrates and seeds. Long-distance migrant.
African Snipe
African Snipe: 25–28 cm, medium-large snipe resident in high-altitude wetlands, bogs, and marshy grassland of eastern and southern Africa from Ethiopia and Sudan to the Cape. Cryptic brown-and-buff streaking. Probes soft mud for invertebrates. Sedentary. Performs display 'drumming' flights with spread tail in breeding season.