Ruddy turnstone
Arenaria interpres
John Clough · Ngong Chong
Key facts in one look
- Size
- 22–24 cm, wingspan 50–57 cm; 85–150 g
- Diet
- Insects, crustaceans, molluscs, worms
- Status in Georgia
- Migrant
- Recorded regions
- Records still few
- Habitat
- Rocky and shingle seashores, jetties, beaches
- Family
- Scolopacidae
- Conservation
- Global NT (2024); Georgia LC (2024)
The ruddy turnstone breeds on the Arctic tundra and spends the winter on sea coasts almost all over the world. It is 22–24 cm long, with a wingspan of 50–57 cm, and weighs 85–150 g. The bill is dark, wedge-shaped and slightly upturned, and the legs are short and bright orange. In summer it has a reddish-brown back with black markings, a black breast and a white head with a black pattern. It is harmless to people. If on the seashore, among stones and washed-up seaweed, you see a patchy, orange-legged bird flipping pebbles with its bill, it is most likely a ruddy turnstone. The 2024 Georgian checklist lists it as a migrant. Records from Georgia are still few: it is seen in May and in August–September, near Batumi, on the coast of Abkhazia, near Maltakva and at Kumisi Lake. Globally it is rated Near Threatened (NT), and in Georgia Least Concern (LC).
Identification
Ruddy turnstone: how to identify it
Its patchy plumage makes it easy to recognise: brown, black and white patches together in a harlequin-like pattern. The legs are short and orange, and the bill is short, dark and slightly upturned. In flight it shows white stripes and patches on the back and wings.
It is 22–24 cm long, with a wingspan of 50–57 cm, and weighs 85–150 g. The body is stocky and the legs short. The bill is 2–2.5 cm long, wedge-shaped and slightly upturned, and the legs are 3.5 cm long and bright orange.
In breeding plumage the back is reddish-brown with black markings. The head is mainly white, with black streaks on the crown and a black pattern on the face. The breast is black with a white patch on each side, and the belly white. The female is slightly duller than the male, with a browner, more streaked head.
In winter it is dark grey-brown above with black mottling and has little white on the head. Young birds have a pale brown head and pale fringes to the back feathers, which look scaly. In flight it shows a white wingbar, a white patch near the base of the wing and a white back and tail, with a dark band on the tail. The call is a sharp, rattling chatter.
Colour
Swatches are illustrative. Do not identify a species by colour alone.
It breeds on open Arctic tundra, a few kilometres from the sea, close to water. Outside the breeding season it is mainly a bird of the seashore: it prefers rocky and shingle shores, breakwaters and jetties, sandy beaches with washed-up seaweed, estuaries and muddy shores. On migration small numbers also turn up on inland waters. Records from Georgia are still few and spread over four regions. In Adjara it is seen near Batumi and in the Chorokhi Delta, in May and September. In Abkhazia there are records from New Athos, Gagra and Pitsunda. In Kvemo Kartli it was seen at Kumisi Lake in May, and in Guria on the coast at Maltakva, south of Poti.
The ruddy turnstone map combines public iNaturalist observations. Regions are taken from the records-by-region table, and the status column separates regions with enough records from regions with too few records. Record counts reflect observation effort rather than population density. Records are still too few to mark any region as part of the range.
Data: Reptiles.ge + iNaturalist · Methodology
- Field observation
- Several records in one spot
- Photo record
- Region with records
It feeds mainly on invertebrates. When breeding, its main food is insects and their larvae, especially flies. At other times it eats crustaceans, spiders, molluscs, especially mussels, and worms. It also eats carrion, fish and plants, and sometimes the unguarded eggs of other birds, such as gulls and terns. With its bill it flips over pebbles, shells and heaps of seaweed, digs in the sand and catches the animals hiding underneath.
It is fully migratory. It migrates in large flocks, and in winter it feeds and rests in flocks of 10–100 or more birds, especially in the tidal zone. It is faithful to its wintering site and returns to it every year. It is long-lived: on average 9 years, and the longest known lifespan is 20 years. It is monogamous, and pairs sometimes stay together for several seasons. It breeds from May to early August in solitary pairs, although in good places several pairs nest close together. The nest is a shallow scrape in the ground, about 11 cm across and 3 cm deep, often lined with leaves. The female lays 2–5 eggs, usually 4. Incubation starts with the first egg and lasts 22–24 days, mostly by the female. The chicks leave the nest soon after hatching and feed themselves, while the parents, especially the male, guard them. They start to fly at 19–21 days.
Globally the ruddy turnstone is rated Near Threatened (NT, 2024). There are 750,000–1,750,000 mature birds, and the number is falling. It is threatened by the loss and degradation of its stopover and wintering sites, illegal killing and disturbance. Climate change may be harming its breeding in the Arctic. Which threat drives the decline most is still unclear. The 2024 Georgian checklist rates it Least Concern (LC) in Georgia.
Related guides
Continue with related pages
Yes. The 2024 Georgian checklist lists it as a migrant. Records are still few: it is seen in spring, in May, and in autumn, in August–September. It breeds in the Arctic and spends the winter on the coasts of other countries.
Mainly on the Black Sea coast: near Batumi and in the Chorokhi Delta, on the coast at Maltakva and in Abkhazia, near Gagra and Pitsunda. It has also been seen at Kumisi Lake in May. Look for it on shingle shores, near jetties and among washed-up seaweed.
By its patchy brown, black and white plumage, short orange legs and short, slightly upturned dark bill. In summer the breast is black and the back reddish; in winter it is darker and duller. On the shore it flips over pebbles and seaweed.
It is 22–24 cm long, with a wingspan of 50–57 cm, and weighs 85–150 g. It is a stocky, short-legged bird.
Invertebrates: insects and their larvae, crustaceans, spiders, molluscs and worms. It also eats carrion, fish, plants and sometimes the unguarded eggs of other birds. It finds its food by flipping over pebbles and shells.
It is harmless to people. Globally it is rated Near Threatened (NT, 2024): its number is falling because of the loss of stopover and wintering sites, hunting and disturbance. In Georgia it is rated Least Concern (LC). If you find an injured bird, call 112 or the environmental protection service.
References
What this profile is based on
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed literature and established biodiversity databases, and are reviewed as new taxonomic and conservation data become available.
Prepared by the Reptiles.ge editorial team from the sources listed here.
