A short-legged shorebird with bold orange-rust, black, and white "calico" breeding plumage. They forage by flipping over stones, seaweed, and shells to find hidden invertebrates beneath.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The ruddy turnstone is a small cosmopolitan wading bird, one of two species of turnstone in the genus Arenaria.
Source: Wikipedia — Ruddy turnstone Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Harlequin-patterned shorebird: breeding birds show a calico of rust, black, and white with a bold black breast pattern and bright orange legs; flight reveals a striking black-and-white wing-and-back pattern.
Similar species. Black Turnstone (Pacific) is blackish without the rust; the orange legs and calico pattern are distinctive for Ruddy.
Voice. A low, staccato, rattling 'tuk-a-tuk' chuckle.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Invertebrates probed from mud, sand, or shallow water.
Behavior. A stocky shorebird that flips over stones, shells, and seaweed with its slightly upturned bill to find hidden invertebrates; forages on rocky and sandy shores worldwide.
§ Range
Migrates through both US coasts; breeds Arctic, winters tropics
§ Habitat
Rocky shores, mudflats, beaches with stones to flip
§ Threats
Coastal habitat loss, climate change at high-Arctic breeding grounds, shoreline armoring.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the ruddy turnstone is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Protect rocky-shore habitats. Support coastal conservation. Avoid disturbing migrant flocks.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Ruddy turnstone
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Arenaria interpres
- IUCN Red List — search for Arenaria interpres
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Arenaria interpres
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
