# Black Turnstone (*Arenaria melanocephala*) The Black Turnstone is a small bird with a black head and a beautiful patterned body. They love to search for food on rocky beaches and are great at flipping over stones to find tasty snacks! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Black Turnstone](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Black_Turnstone_-_5551790011.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jason Crotty, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Black_Turnstone_-_5551790011.jpg) ## Appearance The Black Turnstone has a chunky body with mostly sooty-black plumage on its back and breast, sharply contrasting with a bright white belly. Its sturdy, slightly upturned black bill and short, bright orange legs are distinctive, making it stand out on shorelines. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Scolopacidae - **Genus:** Arenaria ## Interesting facts - Black Turnstones can live up to 12 years in the wild! - Their scientific name, Arenaria, means 'sand-dweller' or 'arena dweller'! - They communicate using calls like a rapid 'kew-kew-kew'. - They sometimes follow larger birds like gulls to find food. ## Special abilities - **Stone Skipper:** Black Turnstone can skillfully flip rocks and seaweed with its bill to uncover delicious hidden treats. - **Shoreline Snatcher:** Has excellent vision and quick reflexes that help it snatch prey left exposed by receding waves. - **Tide Tracker:** Can use its sturdy legs to wade and run rapidly along the intertidal zone, always following the best feeding spots. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 22-25 cm - **Wingspan:** 43-47 cm - **Weight:** 0.1-0.17 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-12 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 21-24 days - **Migration Distance:** 5000 km ## Diet & Feeding These birds are omnivores, mostly eating small marine invertebrates found along rocky and sandy shores. - **Primary Foods:** Mussels, Barnacles, Limpets, Marine worms, Crustaceans, Insect larvae - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Peregrine Falcon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/peregrine-falcon) (*Falco peregrinus*) — Falcons hunt shorebirds. - **Eaten by:** [Western Gull](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-gull) (*Larus occidentalis*) — Gulls prey on eggs or chicks. - **Eaten by:** [Arctic Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/arctic-fox) (*Vulpes lagopus*) — Foxes hunt them on breeding grounds. - **Eats:** Acorn Barnacle (*Balanus glandula*) — Pries barnacles from rocks. - **Eats:** California Mussel (*Mytilus californianus*) — Feeds on small mussels. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Black Turnstone? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Black Turnstone? 22-25 cm ### What is Black Turnstone's wingspan? 43-47 cm ### How much does Black Turnstone weigh? 0.1-0.17 kg ### How long does Black Turnstone live? 5-12 years ### How fast can Black Turnstone move? 60 km/h ### What does Black Turnstone eat? These birds are omnivores, mostly eating small marine invertebrates found along rocky and sandy shores. ### Where is Black Turnstone usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Sabine Channel Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sabine-channel-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Alki Beach Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alki-beach-park) — Washington, US · Park ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Black Turnstone: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-turnstone)