Belongs to: small waders

Turnstone Arenaria interpres

Also known as: ruddy turnstone

Birds of Conservation Concern Amber List


Best time to see: Oct to mid Apr

Key facts

Small dark wader of rocky coastlines, feeding by turning over stones

Habitat: rocky pools, beaches and estuaries

Passage migrant and winter visitor to the UK, breeding in coastal Scandinavia

Recognition

Chestnut and black upperparts, black-and-white face pattern

Characteristic habit of turning stones, also picking and probing at surface

Eats invertebrates

Lifecycle

Nest is a scrape on ground

1 brood May to July; 4 greenish eggs blotched brown

  • Main photo

Photo © Robin Chittenden