Status in UK:
(A) Scarce Breeder, Passage/Winter Visitor
Subspecies:
Monotypic
.
Length:
25 cm
Wingspan:
53 cm
Weight:
M: 180 g F: 110 g
Scientific name from:
Gr.: philomachus=pugnacious
and L.: pugnare=to fight
World Distribution:
BREEDS: Locally in Europe, n&c Asia, WINTERS: south to s Africa & Australia
Habitat:
Grassy tundra, lakes, farmland, on migration mudflat
Diet:
Invertebrates, especially insects, some plant material (esp winter)
TitBit:
The males are spectacular, using their large ruff of feathers round the neck to attract females; those with white ruffs ('satellite' males) do not display to females, but sneak matings where they can.
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
No population trend available
Distribution:
No distribution maps available
British Population Size:
Winter:
800 individuals
in 2004-09
Passage:
1100 individuals
  First Record:
Recorded in Medieval times
[Fossil evidence from
early Holocene, up to 10,000 yr ago]
First Breeding Record:
Cambridgeshire/Norfolk (after extinct 1898) 1963
Latest Survey:
Holling, M. & RBBP 2011 British Birds 104:476-537
Conservation Status: REDbecause
Recent Breeding Population Decline,