Ruddy Turnstone – ForagingArenaria interpres
September – Nova Scotia
L=9.5” ...... WS=21” ...... WT=4 oz
Order: Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks, Allies)
Family:Scolopacidae (Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies)
Ruddy Turnstones get their name from their foraging technique of flipping over stones, pebbles, seaweed, shells and other items with their chisel shaped beak. They will eat almost anything including insects, small fish, carrion, human trash, and bird eggs. They have stout legs, no webbing between the toes, and a small hind toe which enables them to be skilled at walking, running, climbing on rocks, and digging. As they forage they will run from place to place making behavior observation rewarding and entertaining.