Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Image details
Contributor:
Ernie Janes / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
BA6B70File size:
48 MB (1.3 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
5018 x 3343 px | 42.5 x 28.3 cm | 16.7 x 11.1 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
23 March 2009Location:
Norfolk England UKMore information:
The Ruddy Turnstone (or just Turnstone in Europe), Arenaria interpres, has a circumpolar distribution, and is a very long distance migrant, wintering on coasts as far south as South Africa and Australia. It is thus a common sight on coasts almost everywhere in the world.In breeding plumage, this is a showy bird, with a black-and-white head, chestnut back, white underparts and red legs. This is a generally tame bird and is an opportunist feeder. Unlike most waders, it will scavenge, and has a phenomenal list of recorded food items, Smaller than a redshank, turnstones have a mottled appearance with brown or chestnut and black upperparts and brown and white or black and white head pattern, whilst their underparts are white and legs orange. They spend most of their time creeping and fluttering over rocks, picking out food from under stones. Present for most of the year. Birds from Northern Europe pass through in July and August and again spring. Canadian and Greenland birds arrive in August and September and remain until April and May. Non-breeding birds may stay through the summer.