Ruddy Turnstone

Ruddy Turnstone, breeding plumage, Prudhoe Bay, AK, June

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Ruddy Turnstone, adult, nonbreeding plumage

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1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Habitat
7. Food
8. Behavior
9. Reproduction
10. Conservation Status
11. Other Names

A stocky, brightly patterned shorebird, the Ruddy Turnstone can be seen actively pecking, probing, and flipping over stones alony rocky shores.

Cool Facts

• The male Ruddy Turnstone makes nest-like scrapes in the ground within his territory, often close to the final site selected by the female. The male's scrapes are made before the female starts to lay eggs, and are part of the courtship and nest site selection process. No eggs are laid in the scapes the male makes.
• As their name suggests, turnstones often forage by turning over stones and other objects.

Description

• Size: 21-16 cm (8-6 in)
• Wingspan: 50-57 cm (20-22 in)
• Weight: 84-190 g (2.97-6.71 ounces)

• Stocky, medium-sized shorebird.
• Short, dark bill fairly thick with a slight upturn.
• Short, orange legs.
• Black-and-white (or gray) clown-like pattern on face.
• Bold white-and-dark wing pattern visible in flight.
• White lower back.
• White tail with black terminal band.
• Bright reddish sides in breeding plumage.

Sex Differences

Sexes similar, female slightly duller.

Immature

Resembles winter adult, but slightly more brownish overall with paler head.

Similar Species

• Black Turnstone of West Coast has similar wing pattern, but has black legs, lacks any red in plumage, and does not have the intricate face pattern.

Sound

A short rattling chuckle or twittering.

Range

Range Map

© 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology

About the map

Summer Range

Breeds along the arctic coastline, from western Alaska eastward to Greenland. Also across northern Eurasia from northern Scandinavia to eastern Siberia.

Winter Range

Winters along coasts from northern California and northern Massacusetts southward to southern tip of South America.

Habitat

Breeds on rocky arctic coasts and tundra. On migration and in winter, mostly along rocky shores, but also sand beaches and mudflats.

Food

Aquatic invertebrates and insects. Also carrion, garbage, and bird's eggs.

Behavior

Foraging

Uses oddly-shaped bill to flip and turn stones, algae, sticks, and other items to find food underneath. Probes in cracks. Pecks at food on surface of rocks

Reproduction

Nest Type

Scrape or depression in ground or vegetation. Lined with some vegetation.

Egg Description

Oval to mildly pointed, olive or brown with dark brown spots and blotches.

Condition at Hatching

Active and covered with down. Leave nest and feed themselves in first day.

Conservation Status

Populations relatively stable.

Other Names

Tournepierre à collier (French)
Vuelvepiedras rojizo (Spanish)

Sources used to construct this page:

Nettleship, D. N. 2000. Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres). In The Birds of North America, No. 537 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.