Birds · Charadriiformes · Scolopacidae

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The ruddy turnstone is a stocky, orange-legged wader that makes a living doing exactly what its name says: it turns over stones, seaweed and shells with its short, wedge-shaped bill to catch the invertebrates hiding underneath. In breeding plumage it shows a strongly contrasting pattern of chestnut, black and white. It winters on the coasts of every continent and is a regular sight in Spanish harbours and on breakwaters.

Weight

85 g – 150 g

Size

21 cm – 26 cm

Lifespan

20 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

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Fun facts

It lifts stones and seaweed of considerable weight with its bill, sometimes pushing with its breast, and several birds may work together to turn over an object too heavy for one alone.
It is notably opportunistic: it has been documented eating carrion, other birds' eggs, food scraps in harbours and even a human corpse, in a celebrated case in the Scottish ornithological literature.
It is one of the most widely distributed wintering waders in the world: it is found on the coasts of every continent except Antarctica.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Coastal Arctic tundra for breeding; rocky shores, breakwaters and beaches worldwide for wintering
Birth weight: Precocial: born covered in down and leaves the nest within a few hours
Size at birth: Precocial: born covered in down and leaves the nest within a few hours
Sexual maturity: 2 years
Gestation / incubation: 22 days
Litter / clutch size: 4