Photo: Original: neekoh.fi; this edit: MPF / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Near Threatened

Shorebirds

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) — 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 Australian Capital Territory Birds of New South Wales Birds of Northern Territory Birds of Queensland Birds of South Australia Birds of Tasmania Birds of Victoria Birds of Western Australia Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia

By family

Sandpipers & Allies of Australian Capital Territory Sandpipers & Allies of New South Wales Sandpipers & Allies of Northern Territory Sandpipers & Allies of Queensland Sandpipers & Allies of South Australia Sandpipers & Allies of Tasmania Sandpipers & Allies of Victoria Sandpipers & Allies of Western Australia Sandpipers & Allies of Alberta Sandpipers & Allies of British Columbia

See what's near you right now

The Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) is a member of the Scolopacidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 136 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

NT Near Threatened

Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.

Where it fits

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

Where it lives

High and low Arctic tundra of coastal Holarctic

Quick facts

Weight: 136 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Scolopacidae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

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

Behaviour

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

Migration

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

The Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) is a member of the Scolopacidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers NA, PAL high and low Arctic tundra of coastal Holarctic.

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 136 g, with a wing length of about 14.9 cm and a tail of around 6.1 cm.

The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2.6 million km².

Songs & calls

Ruddy Turnstone — Call

Recorded by Bo Shunqi 薄顺奇 Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Ruddy Turnstone?

The Ruddy Turnstone is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 136 g.

Where does the Ruddy Turnstone live?

The Ruddy Turnstone is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering NA, PAL high and low Arctic tundra of coastal Holarctic, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Ruddy Turnstone belong to?

The Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) belongs to the Scolopacidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Ruddy Turnstone eat?

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

Does the Ruddy Turnstone migrate?

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

Is the Ruddy Turnstone endangered?

The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.

What sound does the Ruddy Turnstone make?

1 real field recording of the Ruddy 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 Ruddy Turnstone's range?

The Ruddy Turnstone has a mapped global range of about 2.6 million km².