The ruff makes an annual migration between Arctic breeding grounds and southern Africa, often stopping at the Wadden Sea.
Ruffs breed across northern Eurasia, with many populations nesting in tundra, wet meadows, and northern marshes. They migrate along the East Atlantic and other flyways to wintering areas that can extend from Europe to sub-Saharan Africa. The Wadden Sea is an important staging region for birds moving along the European coast.
The species is famous for its unusual breeding system. Males gather in leks, where they display in elaborate neck feathers and compete for access to females. Males can have different display types, including territorial and satellite strategies.
Outside the breeding season, ruffs are less conspicuous and may gather in large flocks on wetlands. They are sometimes mistaken for other medium-sized waders, but their variable plumage, flocking behavior, and lek breeding make them distinctive.