The fringed sandpiper (scientific name: Philomachus pugnax) is 280 to 290 mm long. Male adults (breeding season): The face has a bare area, yellow, orange-red or red, with fine warts and folds. The ear-like tufts on both sides of the head stretch like fans to the occipital side, and there are very exaggerated fringed feathers on the side of the neck and chest. The color of the feathers varies greatly from individual to individual, including chestnut brown, chestnut red, off-white, white, light yellow, black purple luster and so on. The color of the upper body's plumage usually coincides with the color of the ornamental feathers, and it is densely speckled. The flight feathers are dark brown , and the wing coverts are more grayish brown with off-white margins. The ends of the large coverts are white, forming a wing line. The waist is dark brown. The tail feathers are grey. The caudal covert is brown in the center, white on both sides, and is long, forming two distinct white oval strips that extend almost to the end of the tail. The abdomen is white , but has dark markings on the lower chest and flanks. The axillary feathers and underwing coverts are white. Female adult bird (breeding season): Like a common sandpiper. Individuals are smaller than males, with no bare areas on the face and no feathers on the head and neck; the upper body is dark brown with yellow or white feather margins; the neck and chest are more dark brown spots, the abdomen is white, and there are brown spots on both sides. Adult birds (non-breeding feathers): Like females, the feathers are pale and lack of ornamental feathers and various colors. The upperparts are greyish brown and the feathers are dark. The underparts are white , and the front neck , thorax , and flanks are stained gray. The iris is dark brown with a black mouth; the male's mouth is yellow, orange or pink during the breeding season. The legs are red or orange-yellow, and there are also gray-green
China is mainly a traveling bird, passing through China in april and May in spring and August and September in autumn. Sichuan Fujian and other places
The breeding season is from May to August. Nests on the shores of swampy wetlands and waters. He especially likes nesting on the banks of grassy lakes and rivers. There is no fixed mate relationship between male and female birds, and no pairs are formed. During breeding and mating, males often gather at fixed tundra lakes or other suitable courtship grounds for complex courtship performances. In this performance, some male birds also defend their own "settlement" of about one square meter or so through certain postures, sometimes even kicking and pecking, while other subordinate males gather around. They erect their ear feathers and spread their feathers, make various gestures, jump upwards from each other, and constantly fight. This activity is more active especially when the female arrives.
The female comes to the court, mates with one or more males, and leaves the court to nest alone. The males, on the other hand, remain in the court, waiting for the female to mate with them, and do not participate in any activities to incubate and care for the young. Nests are usually placed in grass or on the ground where other plants are hidden. It is usually more hidden and not easily detected. The nest is actually quite rudimentary. Mainly by the female bird digs a small pit in the ground, lined with dry grass and leaves. Eggs are usually laid at 4 per clutch, and occasionally 3. The eggs are olive brown, yellowish brown, pale green or light blue in color and are covered with brown or gray spots.