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Philomachus pugnax
The Ruff is a medium-sized (approx 30 cm), small-headed, short-billed and scaly backed wading bird (family Scolopacidae) with orange legs. The rest of its appearance is highly variable, but usually brown to grey-brown, scaly above with lightly mottled head to breast.
Seen on shores of soda lake in central Kenya. Observed during four to five days of my stay on shores, in loosely congregated groups of various waders, gulls and cormorants.
This gregarious palearctic sandpiper breeds in marshes and wet meadows across northern Eurasia, and migrates, often in huge flocks to its winter grounds, which include sub-saharan Africa.
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