# Ruddy Turnstone (*Arenaria interpres*) The Ruddy Turnstone is a small bird that loves to explore beaches and rocky shores. It has a beautiful mix of brown, white, and black feathers and is known for turning over stones to find tasty snacks! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 40 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Ruddy Turnstone](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Arenaria_interpres_%28habitus%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arenaria_interpres_%28habitus%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Ruddy Turnstone is a sturdy shorebird with short orange legs and a distinctive wedge-shaped bill. It has a striking reddish-brown and black mottled back, contrasting with a white belly and chest, marked by a black band. Its bold, harlequin-like facial pattern makes it easily recognizable among other coastal birds. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Scolopacidae - **Genus:** Arenaria ## Interesting facts - Ruddy Turnstones often nest in a shallow scrape on the ground in the Arctic tundra. - Some Ruddy Turnstones fly from the Arctic to New Zealand – an incredible journey! - Their scientific name, \*Arenaria\*, means 'sand-dweller', perfect for their beach home. - They are one of the most widespread shorebirds, found on almost every continent. ## Special abilities - **Stone Flipping Power:** Ruddy Turnstones can use their strong, short bills to flip over stones and shells because this helps them find hidden food underneath. - **Arctic Navigator:** Ruddy Turnstones have an incredible sense of direction that helps them migrate thousands of kilometers from the Arctic to warm coasts. - **Coastal Camouflage:** Ruddy Turnstones have mottled reddish-brown and black plumage that helps them blend perfectly with rocky shorelines and tundra. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 21-26 cm - **Wingspan:** 50-57 cm - **Weight:** 0.085-0.17 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-19 years - **Speed:** 70 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 21-24 days - **Migration Distance:** 15000 km ## Diet & Feeding These clever birds love to feast on a variety of small critters found hiding in sand and under rocks! - **Primary Foods:** Insects, Crustaceans, Mollusks, Marine worms, Bird eggs, Carrion - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Arctic Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/arctic-fox) (*Vulpes lagopus*) — Arctic Fox preys on Ruddy Turnstone eggs and chicks in nesting areas. - **Eaten by:** Parasitic Jaeger (*Stercorarius parasiticus*) — Jaegers are aerial predators that hunt adult Ruddy Turnstones and their young. - **Eats:** Green Crab (*Carcinus maenas*) — Ruddy Turnstones forage for and consume small Green Crabs in coastal areas. - **Eats:** Lugworm (*Arenicola marina*) — Turnstones pull Lugworms from the sand and mudflats as a food source. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [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. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [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 Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Ruddy 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 Ruddy Turnstone? 21-26 cm ### What is Ruddy Turnstone's wingspan? 50-57 cm ### How much does Ruddy Turnstone weigh? 0.085-0.17 kg ### How long does Ruddy Turnstone live? 10-19 years ### How fast can Ruddy Turnstone move? 70 km/h ### What does Ruddy Turnstone eat? These clever birds love to feast on a variety of small critters found hiding in sand and under rocks! ### Where is Ruddy Turnstone usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bolsa-chica-ecological-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Cape Charles Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cape-charles-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Cape Lookout Coast Guard Station](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cape-lookout-coast-guard-station) — US · Historic Site - [Compo–Owenoke Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/compo-owenoke-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Zoo de la Palmyre](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-de-la-palmyre) — Nouvelle-Aquitaine, FR · Zoo - [Gulf Breeze Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gulf-breeze-zoo) — Florida, US · Zoo [View all places to see Ruddy Turnstone](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/ruddy-turnstone) ## 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: [Ruddy Turnstone: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruddy-turnstone)