Ruddy turnstone
Arenaria interpres
Identification Tips:
- 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.