Black turnstone Arenaria melanocephala

Identification Tips:

• Small, short-legged shorebird
• Short, dark bill is fairly thick with a slight upturn to the lower mandible
• Legs are usually dark, but occasionally are dark red or pinkish
• Bold wing pattern visible in flight is produced by a white wing stripe, a white lower back and white at the base of the leading edge of the wing
• White tail with black terminal band
• Sexes similar
• Juvenile is similar to basic-plumaged adults

Adult alternate:

• Black head, chest, upper back, scapulars, and upperwing
• White spot at the lores and white supercilium
• White spots on sides of neck and breast
• White belly

Adult basic:

• Dark brown head with generally pale throat and post-ocular stripe, but without pale spot at lores
• Blackish-brown chest, back and upperwings
• White belly

Similar species:

Ruddy Turnstone is similar but browner in basic plumage, and has a pale area within dark chest bands, and brighter red legs, and may show traces of rust-red back feathers. Surfbird has yellowish legs and paler body plumage; white wingstripe and white tail with dark terminal band produce a less striking pattern in flight than in turnstones.