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Ruff

Calidris pugnax

Bird · family Scolopacidae · order Charadriiformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Native in
9 states[3]
Typical length
10 in[4]

The Ruff is a bird in the family Scolopacidae[5]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide, and it is not listed under the US Endangered Species Act[2][1].

Conservation status

NatureServe gives the Ruff a global rank of G5, which means Secure[2]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Least concern[6]. In the United States, the national rank is N1B for breeding birds, which means Critically Imperiled, and Not Ranked for nonbreeding birds[7]. The Ruff is not listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act[1]. It is on the federal list of birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
NatureServe US rank[7] N1B,NNRN (Critically Imperiled (breeding), Not Ranked (nonbreeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[6] Least concern
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[9] 10,000 to 100,000 individuals

Where Ruff lives

NatureServe lists the Ruff as native in 9 US states and territories: Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York and Washington[3]. Its state ranks differ. The table on this page shows each state rank[10]. On GBIF, the states with the most observation records are California, Alaska, Oregon, New Jersey and Washington[11]. Those counts follow where people watch birds and report them, not how many birds there are[11].

Alaska: native, state rank S2MAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: native, state rank SNAWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: native, state rank SNAILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: native, state rank SNRNNYMassachusetts: native, state rank S1NMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: native, state rank S4NNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: native, state rank SNADEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: native, state rank SNANCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: native, state rank SNAHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: not recordedFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[10].
Show state ranks (9 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlaskaS2MImperiled (migrant)
DelawareSNANot Applicable
HawaiiSNANot Applicable
IllinoisSNANot Applicable
MassachusettsS1NCritically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
New JerseyS4NApparently Secure (nonbreeding)
New YorkSNRNNot Ranked (nonbreeding)
North CarolinaSNANot Applicable
WashingtonSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe records tundra, herbaceous wetland, riparian areas and tidal flats or shores as Ruff habitat[12]. Its notes describe grassy tundra, swampy meadows and marshes[13]. In the north it nests on tundra, and in the south on marshland[13]. Outside the nesting season it also uses mudflats, flooded fields and salt ponds[13]. The nest sits in a small dip in a meadow, a marsh or a clump of grass[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size and diet

The Ruff is about 25 cm (10 in) long[4]. An adult typically weighs about 163 g[14]. NatureServe lists it as an eater of invertebrates, plants and seeds[15]. It eats mostly aquatic insects, along with some worms, crustaceans and mollusks[16]. It probes mud for food and may wade deeply[16]. In Europe, a female lays a clutch of 4 eggs in May and June[17]. Males put on group courtship displays at traditional sites[17]. NatureServe estimates the global adult population at 10,000 to 100,000 individuals[9].

Trait Value
Typical length[4] 25 cm (10 in)
Typical adult weight[14] 163 g (5.7 oz)
Food habits[15] Invertivore, Herbivore, Granivore
Migration[18] long-distance migrant

When to look for it

The Ruff is active in the daytime[19]. NatureServe calls it a long-distance migrant, though populations can differ[18]. Males start leaving breeding areas in late June, and females and young birds follow from mid-July[20]. Most arrive on the winter range in August and September, and the return trip runs from February to May[20]. On GBIF, most US records fall in April, May and September[21]. Records show when people look and report, not how many birds there are[21].

January: 879 recordsJanFebruary: 585 recordsFebMarch: 709 recordsMarApril: 3,935 recordsAprMay: 2,929 recordsMayJune: 560 recordsJunJuly: 2,105 recordsJulAugust: 2,763 recordsAugSeptember: 3,730 recordsSepOctober: 1,339 recordsOctNovember: 685 recordsNovDecember: 400 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[21].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January879
February585
March709
April3,935
May2,929
June560
July2,105
August2,763
September3,730
October1,339
November685
December400

Where to see it

National Park Service species lists record Ruff as present in 1 park units[22]. Present means the park has a confirmed record, not that sightings are common.

States with the most GBIF observation records: California, Alaska, Oregon, New Jersey, Washington[11]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Ruff endangered?
The Ruff is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) worldwide, and the IUCN category is Least concern[2][6].
Where does the Ruff live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as native in Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York and Washington[3].
What does the Ruff eat?
It eats mostly aquatic insects, plus some worms, crustaceans, mollusks and seeds[16]. It probes mud to find food[16].
How big is a Ruff?
A typical Ruff is about 25 cm (10 in) long and weighs about 163 g[4][14].
When can you see a Ruff in the US?
GBIF records for the US peak in April, May and September[21]. These records show when people report the bird, not how many there are[21].

Facts and sources

  1. Ruff is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Ruff: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Ruff as native in 9 US states and territories: Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Washington. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 25 cm (10 in). NatureServe Explorer
  5. Ruff (Calidris pugnax) is a bird in the family Scolopacidae, order Charadriiformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Least concern. NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N1B,NNRN (Critically Imperiled (breeding), Not Ranked (nonbreeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  8. Ruff is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 10,000 to 100,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe state ranks for Ruff (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  11. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Ruff: California, Alaska, Oregon, New Jersey, Washington. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for Ruff: Tundra, Herbaceous wetland, Riparian, Tidal flat/shore. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for Ruff. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 163 g (5.7 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  15. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore, Herbivore, Granivore. NatureServe Explorer
  16. NatureServe notes on food for Ruff. NatureServe Explorer
  17. NatureServe notes on reproduction for Ruff. NatureServe Explorer
  18. NatureServe migration category for Ruff: long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  19. Adult activity patterns recorded by NatureServe: Diurnal. NatureServe Explorer
  20. NatureServe notes on migration for Ruff. NatureServe Explorer
  21. GBIF observation records of Ruff in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  22. NPSpecies park lists recording Ruff as present (list on this page). NPS NPSpecies

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.