Turnstone

A turnstone is a stocky shorebird in the genus Arenaria that uses its bill to flip stones, shells, and other objects while searching for food.

Ruddy Turnstone: Arenaria interpres is a widespread turnstone with rusty breeding plumage and a circumpolar breeding range. This is the more widespread species and the turnstone most often seen on coasts worldwide.
Foraging: Foraging is the search for and acquisition of food by an animal. Turning over debris is one distinctive way turnstones locate food.
Bird migration: Bird migration is the regular seasonal movement of birds between breeding and nonbreeding areas. Ruddy Turnstones undertake long journeys between Arctic breeding grounds and warmer coasts.
Ruddy Turnstone subspecies: Ruddy Turnstone subspecies are geographically differentiated populations of Arenaria interpres. Several named populations differ in breeding range, migration, and plumage.
Black Turnstone: Arenaria melanocephala is a dark-plumaged turnstone that breeds in Alaska and winters along the Pacific coast of North America. Its restricted Pacific range contrasts with the Ruddy Turnstone’s broad distribution.
Tactile foraging: Tactile foraging is food detection through touch, often using a bill or other sensitive body part. Turnstones probe and manipulate objects to find prey concealed from view.
Atlantic Flyway: The Atlantic Flyway is a major North American bird migration route following the Atlantic coast. Ruddy Turnstones use this route during migration between Arctic and southern coastal regions.
Arenaria interpres morinella: Arenaria interpres morinella is a subspecies of Ruddy Turnstone that breeds in North America. This North American breeding population is familiar along the continent’s coasts.
Arenaria: Arenaria is a genus of shorebirds comprising the Ruddy Turnstone and Black Turnstone. Both living turnstone species belong to this small genus.
Intertidal zone: The intertidal zone is the coastal area exposed at low tide and submerged at high tide. Low tides reveal the stones and marine prey turnstones search.

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