Ruddy turnstone Arenaria interpres

Identification Tips:

• Length: 7 inches
• Small, short-legged shorebird
• Short, dark bill is fairly thick with a slight upturn to the lower mandible
• Legs are yellow to red
• 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:

• Striking black and white head pattern
• Rufous and black back and wings
• Black breast with enclosed white patch
• White belly

Adult basic:

• Gray-brown head and upperparts
• White throat
• Black breast with enclosed white to gray patch
• White belly
• Juvenile has pale edges to back and wing coverts

Similar species:

Black Turnstone is similar but darker in basic plumage, has an all dark chest, duller legs, and lacks any trace of rust-red back feathers. Surfbird has yellowish legs and a more uniform body plumage; white wingstripe and white tail with dark terminal band produce a less striking pattern in flight than in turnstones.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.