Photo: Jason Crotty / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Shorebirds

Black Turnstone

Arenaria melanocephala

Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Canada Birds of Ecuador Birds of Mexico Birds of the United States Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Yukon Territory Birds of Alaska Birds of Arizona Birds of California

By family

Sandpipers & Allies of Canada Sandpipers & Allies of Ecuador Sandpipers & Allies of Mexico Sandpipers & Allies of the United States Sandpipers & Allies of Alberta Sandpipers & Allies of British Columbia Sandpipers & Allies of Yukon Territory Sandpipers & Allies of Alaska Sandpipers & Allies of Arizona Sandpipers & Allies of California

See what's near you right now

The Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala) is a member of the Scolopacidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 126 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Scolopacidae Sandpipers, Snipes
Genus Arenaria
Species melanocephala

Where it lives

Coastal western Alaska, also along rivers, streambeds and lakes

North America

Quick facts

Weight: 126 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Scolopacidae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Near Threatened

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Black Turnstone hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of coastal habitats, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Black Turnstone is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala) belongs to the Scolopacidae family of the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans North America. Its distribution covers NA coastal w Alaska, also along rivers, streambeds and lakes.

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 126 g, with a wing length of about 14.2 cm and a tail of around 6.1 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 83,000 km².

Songs & calls

Black Turnstone — Call, surfbirds

Recorded by Anthony Gliozzo Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Black Turnstone?

The Black Turnstone is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 126 g.

Where does the Black Turnstone live?

The Black Turnstone is found across North America with a range covering NA coastal w Alaska, also along rivers, streambeds and lakes, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Black Turnstone belong to?

The Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Black Turnstone eat?

The Black Turnstone hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Black Turnstone migrate?

The Black Turnstone is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Black Turnstone endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Black Turnstone make?

1 real field recording of the Black Turnstone — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Black Turnstone's range?

The Black Turnstone has a mapped global range of about 83,000 km².