| Description:
Turnstones are chunky, robin-sized birds with short, orange legs; short, pointed,
slightly upturned black bills; and distinctive coloration. The breeding plumage includes a
bright rufous, black, gray and white pattern. In nonbreeding plumage, heads are brown and
upper parts brown to blackish with little ruddy coloration. A brown bib is present and the
legs remain orange. They are boldly patterned in flight. |
Ruddy turnstone in nonbreeding plumage
|
- Similar Species:
Within the Great Plains, Ruddy Turnstones shouldn’t be confused with other
species of shorebirds.
- Comments: Turnstones
characteristically “turn stones” and flip over shoreline debris with their bills
to look for invertebrates. They nest on the arctic coastal tundra and winter along rocky,
sandy and muddy shorelines along both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. They often fly
without stopping across the central Great Plains during migration. When they are seen,
they are usually found singly or in small groups. Large concentrations of Ruddy Turnstones
are primarily found in southern coastal Texas or in the southern to central Canadian
Prairie Provinces. A turnstone in the central portion of the Great Plains is a great find
for birders.
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