Also, males develop facial wattles, which are similar to the combs of domestic cocks and turkeys. Both the male breeding plumage and the facial wattles are directly testosterone dependent. Resident male with rufous ruff and red facial wattles. Male Ruff exhibit an extreme polymorphism in the colour and the pattern of the breeding plumage and this plumage variation is used for individual recognition. Females are significantly smaller than males and mostly retain the drab winter plumage typical of both males and females.
Some females do, however, show a limited expression of the male breeding plumage.
Two females caught on a lek while assessing males. The female at the top has got a typical female plumage, while the bottom one has some barred feathers typical of the male breeding plumage. Some male Ruff, referred to as Independents, attempt to establish and defend territories on leks, whereas other males, so-called Satellites, try to get access to territories defended by Independents. The Independents that succeed in establishing territories are called Residents, and the non-territorial Independents are called Marginals. The Marginals are potential future Residents that act as floaters in the population .