Black Turnstone

Black Turnstone, adult, breeding plumage

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Black Turnstone, adult, winter plumage

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

The Black Turnstone is one of the defining species for the rocky, wave-battered Pacific Coast. It blends in well with the dark rocks, but a careful winter observer will find it from Alaska through Baja California. It is rarely found far from the vicinity of spraying waves.

Description

• Stocky, medium-sized, short-legged shorebird.
• Short, dark bill fairly thick with a slight upturn to the lower mandible.
• Legs usually dark, but occasionally dark red or pinkish.
• Bold wing pattern visible in flight, produced by white feathers at the base of the leading edge of the wing, a white wing stripe, and a white lower back.
• White tail with black terminal band.

• Size: 22-25 cm (9-10 in)
• Weight: 100-170 g (3.53-6.0 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes similar in plumage, but female larger on average.

Sound

Constant rattles and dry chatters in winter feeding flock. On breeding ground, calls a persistent "weet, weet, too-weet" at intruders.

Conservation Status

No data on long-term population trends.

Other Names

Tournepierre noir (French)
Vuelvepiedras negro (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• As their name suggests, turnstones often forage by turning over stones and other objects.

• On the breeding grounds, the Black Turnstone is extremely aggressive to avian predators, flying more than 100 m from its territory to pursue jaegers and gulls.

Sources used to construct this page:

Handel, C. M., and R. E. Gill. 2001. Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala). In The Birds of North America, No. 585 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.