Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

An attractive shorebird, frequently seen flipping stones in search of small creatures sheltering beneath. These long-distance migrants visit temperate and tropical coastlines across the globe but return to the Arctic each year to nest.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Ruddy Turnstone is a small, stocky shorebird with a distinctive patterned plumage. Its breeding plumage features a black-and-white head, rufous and black upperparts, and white underparts. The short, slightly upturned black bill and bright orange legs are key identifying features.

Non-breeding adults have duller plumage, brown upperparts, and a dark breast band. Juveniles resemble non-breeding adults but have buff-edged feathers on their upperparts, giving them a scaly appearance.

In flight, they show bold and contrasting white stripes on the upper wings, down the center of the back, and across the rump.

Size

Length

21cm to 24cm

Wingspan

43cm to 49cm

Weight

85g to 150g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Black White Brown

Secondary Colour

Rufous

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Orange

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Ruddy Turnstone is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Ruddy Turnstone is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Ruddy Turnstone can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Ruddy Turnstone can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Ruddy Turnstone is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Ruddy Turnstone is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Ruddy Turnstone is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Ruddy Turnstone is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Ruddy Turnstone is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Ruddy Turnstone is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Ruddy Turnstone is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Ruddy Turnstone is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Ruddy Turnstones breed in the Arctic tundra of North America, Europe, and Asia. During non-breeding seasons, they are found on coastal areas worldwide, including rocky shores, sandy beaches, and mudflats.

They are common migrants along the coasts of the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia. Some individuals overwinter in these regions, particularly in milder coastal areas.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 1,000 meters

Climate zones

Arctic, Temperate, Tropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Ruddy Turnstone. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons