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Difference between revisions of "Ruddy Turnstone" - BirdForum Opus

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[[Image:Ruddy_Turnstone.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Andy+Bright|Andy Bright}} <br / >Location:  Morston, [[Norfolk]]]]
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[[Image:Turnstone64.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Breeding plumage <br />Photo &copy; by {{user|AndyMc|AndyMc}}<br />Long Drag, Seal Sands, [[Cleveland]], [[England]]; May 2008]]
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'''Alternative name: Turnstone'''
 
;[[:Category:Arenaria|Arenaria]] interpres
 
;[[:Category:Arenaria|Arenaria]] interpres
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
L. 23cm<br/>
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[[Image:Ruddy_Turnstone.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Winter plumage<br / >Photo &copy; by {{user|Andy+Bright|Andy Bright}} <br / >Morston, [[Norfolk]], [[England]]; November 2004]]
Ws. 52cm<br/>
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[[File:Ruddy_Turnstone_Flight_LRNZC.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Flight<br />Photo &copy; by {{user|Lorenz_C|Lorenz_C}}<br />Virginia Key, [[Florida]], [[USA]], 18 May 2021]]
Wt. 120gm<br/>
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Length 21–26 cm (8¼-10¼ in), wingspan 50–57 cm, weight 84–190 g<br/>
 
*Relatively small and stocky
 
*Relatively small and stocky
 
*Short orange legs
 
*Short orange legs
 
*Short, sharp black bill
 
*Short, sharp black bill
*Dark bib (black during breeding, April-September)
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*Bib black with white half-collar during breeding (April-September), all dark brown in winter
*White underparts
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*White underparts, central lower back and rump, and base of tail
*Dark brown back and head
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*In flight, wings dark brown with a white wingbar and a white scapular bar; secondary coverts reddish in summer plumage
**Reddish brown during breeding
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*Head white with black mask and blackish crown streaks during breeding, all dark brown in winter
 +
*Upperparts mottled reddish brown and black during breeding, dark brown in winter
 +
*Sexes similar, though males brighter than females in summer plumage (slightly more white on head, brighter rufous upperparts)
 +
*Juvenile similar to winter adult
  
The more dramatic plumage of breeding (from which it gets its name) is rarely observed simply because it has migrated to latitudes that are almost devoid of human presence.
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The summer breeding plumage (from which it gets its name 'ruddy') can be seen for a month or so (mid April to mid May) before they migrate to the Arctic to breed, and again for a month after they return in late summer (August).
 +
====Similar species====
 +
[[Black Turnstone]], which occurs with Ruddy Turnstone on the west coast of North America, is structurally very similar, but marginally larger; it is much darker blackish-brown, and in the breeding season has less white on the head, only a small white spot at the base of the bill and a weak white eyebrow. Its legs are also dark brown, rather than orange.
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
A widely distributed species along shorelines of continents. Breeds on tundra in the extreme northern latitudes of [[North America]], [[Europe]], and [[Russia]].<br/>
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A widely distributed species along shorelines of continents. Breeds on tundra in the extreme northern latitudes of [[North America]], [[Europe]], and [[Russia]]; also a small relict population further south in the Baltic Sea and islets in eastern [[Denmark]].
  
Overwintering range almost worldwide. Fairly common on the shores of the Great Lakes of North America during migration.
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Overwintering range on coasts almost worldwide. Generally rare inland and on fresh water, but fairly common on the shores of the Great Lakes of North America during migration.
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
 
Formerly considered a plover, it is now classified in the sandpiper family.
 
Formerly considered a plover, it is now classified in the sandpiper family.
 +
====Subspecies====
 +
There are two subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
 +
*''A. i. interpres'':
 +
:*Far northeastern [[Canada]], [[Greenland]], and across northern [[Eurasia]] to northwestern [[Alaska]]; winters western [[Europe]] to [[Africa]] and [[Australasia]], also a few on west coast of [[North America]].
 +
 +
*''A. i. morinella'':
 +
:*North-eastern Alaska east to north-central [[Canada]]; winters southeastern [[USA]] to southern [[South America]]. Slightly smaller than ''A. i. interpres''.
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
Rocky Shores. Casual inland.
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Rocky shores. Marshy lowland slopes, and tundra. Casual inland on migration.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
Fairly long-lived, with an average around 9 years and a recorded record of 19
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Fairly long-lived, with an average around 9 years and a recorded record of 22.
 +
 
 +
A strong flier that during migration is able to fly from southern [[Australia]] to [[Taiwan]] in one stretch.
 
====Diet====
 
====Diet====
The action of flipping over small stones to find food led to its common name.  It will take just about anything organic, including insects, carrion, mollusks, eggs, worms, etc.   
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The action of flipping over small stones to find food led to its common name.  It will take just about anything organic, including insects, carrion, molluscs, eggs, worms, etc.   
 
====Breeding====
 
====Breeding====
Monogomous.  Individual birds often return to favorite spots year after year.
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[[Dictionary_M-O#M|Monogomous]].  Individual birds often return to favourite spots year after year.
 
===Vocalisation===
 
===Vocalisation===
<flashmp3>Arenaria interpres (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
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A long rapid trill.
''[[Media:Arenaria interpres (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
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{{ Audio|Arenaria interpres (song).mp3 }}
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 +
==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug19}}#Nettleship, D. N. (2020). Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (S. M. Billerman, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.rudtur.01
 +
#Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
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#[http://birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=177353 Birdforum thread] with link to migration study
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{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
{{GSearch|Arenaria+interpres}}<br />
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{{GSearch|"Arenaria interpres" {{!}} "Ruddy Turnstone"}}
{{Video|Ruddy_Turnstone}}
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<br />
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{{VSearch|"Arenaria interpres" {{!}} "Ruddy Turnstone"}}
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{{GS-checked}}1
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<br />
 +
<br />
  
  
  
[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Arenaria]][[Category:Videos]][[Category:Bird Songs]]
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[[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Arenaria]] [[Category:Bird Songs]] [[Category:Videos]]

Latest revision as of 10:24, 18 September 2023

Breeding plumage
Photo © by AndyMc
Long Drag, Seal Sands, Cleveland, England; May 2008

Alternative name: Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Identification

Winter plumage
Photo © by Andy Bright
Morston, Norfolk, England; November 2004
Flight
Photo © by Lorenz_C
Virginia Key, Florida, USA, 18 May 2021

Length 21–26 cm (8¼-10¼ in), wingspan 50–57 cm, weight 84–190 g

  • Relatively small and stocky
  • Short orange legs
  • Short, sharp black bill
  • Bib black with white half-collar during breeding (April-September), all dark brown in winter
  • White underparts, central lower back and rump, and base of tail
  • In flight, wings dark brown with a white wingbar and a white scapular bar; secondary coverts reddish in summer plumage
  • Head white with black mask and blackish crown streaks during breeding, all dark brown in winter
  • Upperparts mottled reddish brown and black during breeding, dark brown in winter
  • Sexes similar, though males brighter than females in summer plumage (slightly more white on head, brighter rufous upperparts)
  • Juvenile similar to winter adult

The summer breeding plumage (from which it gets its name 'ruddy') can be seen for a month or so (mid April to mid May) before they migrate to the Arctic to breed, and again for a month after they return in late summer (August).

Similar species

Black Turnstone, which occurs with Ruddy Turnstone on the west coast of North America, is structurally very similar, but marginally larger; it is much darker blackish-brown, and in the breeding season has less white on the head, only a small white spot at the base of the bill and a weak white eyebrow. Its legs are also dark brown, rather than orange.

Distribution

A widely distributed species along shorelines of continents. Breeds on tundra in the extreme northern latitudes of North America, Europe, and Russia; also a small relict population further south in the Baltic Sea and islets in eastern Denmark.

Overwintering range on coasts almost worldwide. Generally rare inland and on fresh water, but fairly common on the shores of the Great Lakes of North America during migration.

Taxonomy

Formerly considered a plover, it is now classified in the sandpiper family.

Subspecies

There are two subspecies[1]:

  • A. i. interpres:
  • A. i. morinella:
  • North-eastern Alaska east to north-central Canada; winters southeastern USA to southern South America. Slightly smaller than A. i. interpres.

Habitat

Rocky shores. Marshy lowland slopes, and tundra. Casual inland on migration.

Behaviour

Fairly long-lived, with an average around 9 years and a recorded record of 22.

A strong flier that during migration is able to fly from southern Australia to Taiwan in one stretch.

Diet

The action of flipping over small stones to find food led to its common name. It will take just about anything organic, including insects, carrion, molluscs, eggs, worms, etc.

Breeding

Monogomous. Individual birds often return to favourite spots year after year.

Vocalisation

A long rapid trill.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, S. M. Billerman, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2019. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World: v2019. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Nettleship, D. N. (2020). Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (S. M. Billerman, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.rudtur.01
  3. Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
  4. Birdforum thread with link to migration study

Recommended Citation

External Links


GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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